in the matter of an arbitration under chapter 11 of …
TRANSCRIPT
IN THE MATTER OF AN ARBITRATION UNDER CHAPTER 11 OF THE NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
AND THE UNCITRAL ARBITRATION RULES
MESA POWER GROUP, LLC
Investor
v.
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
Respondent
MEMORIAL OF THE INVESTOR November 20, 2013
Appleton & Associates International Lawyers 77 Bloor St West Suite 1800 Toronto, Ontario M5S 1M2 Tel.: (416) 966‐8800 Fax: (416) 966‐8801 Counsel for the Investor
Public Version
Public Version - May 15, 2014
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Re: Mesa Power Group v. Canada November 20, 2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART ONE: SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................... 1
I. Overview ....................................................................................................................................................... 1
A. The Investor ............................................................................................................................................ 8
B. The Investments ..................................................................................................................................... 8
i. Canadian Business Operations ....................................................................................................... 12
C. The Dispute at the World Trade Organization over the FIT Program .................................................. 12
D. The Ontario Power Authority ............................................................................................................... 16
E. The Independent Electricity System Operator ..................................................................................... 22
F. Hydro One ............................................................................................................................................ 24
II. CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS .......................................................................................................................... 27
III. BREACH OF OBLIGATIONS ........................................................................................................................... 28
IV. INTERPRETATION OF THE NAFTA ................................................................................................................ 31
A. Relevant Provisions of NAFTA .............................................................................................................. 31
B. Interpretation in Accordance with the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties ............................ 32
C. The Expansion of International Law ..................................................................................................... 35
i. The NAFTA Free Trade Commission Interpretation ....................................................................... 35
PART TWO: STATEMENT OF FACTS ..................................................................................................... 39
I. Canada is Responsible for the OPA's Measures .......................................................................................... 39
A. The FIT Program ................................................................................................................................... 39
i. Directions as to domestic content ................................................................................................. 41 ii. Direct Ministry of Environment Involvement & Influence Over the Process of the OPA .............. 45
II. Power and electricity in Ontario ................................................................................................................. 47
III. Power generation ....................................................................................................................................... 49
IV. Power Transmission, Distribution and Commercial Sale ............................................................................ 51
V. The Feed‐In‐Tariff Program ......................................................................................................................... 52
VI. Participation in the FIT Program: The process for obtaining a contract ..................................................... 54
A. Domestic Content Requirements ......................................................................................................... 56
B. The TAT ................................................................................................................................................. 56
C. The ECT ................................................................................................................................................. 57
VII. Facts in the present dispute ........................................................................................................................ 57
A. Changes to the FIT Program Rules & Connection Point Changes......................................................... 59
B. Revisions to REA Process ...................................................................................................................... 62
C. Waiver of Termination Rights ............................................................................................................... 63
D. The Korean Consortium's Green Energy Investment Agreement ........................................................ 65
E. Boulevard's Involvement in the FIT Program ....................................................................................... 68
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PART THREE: SUBSTANTIVE LEGAL ISSUES ......................................................................................... 70
I. Performance Requirements‐ Article 1106 .................................................................................................. 70
II. NATIONAL TREATMENT .............................................................................................................................. 73
A. Likeness ................................................................................................................................................ 74
B. Treatment No Less Favorable ............................................................................................................... 78
C. "With Respect to the Establishment, Acquisition, Expansion, Management, Conduct, Operation, and
Sale or Other Disposition of Investments" ........................................................................................... 81
III. MOST FAVORED NATION TREATMENT ....................................................................................................... 82
A. Likeness ................................................................................................................................................ 84
B. Treatment No Less Favorable ............................................................................................................... 85
C. "With Respect to the Establishment, Acquisition, Expansion, Management, Conduct, Operation, and
Sale or Other Disposition of Investments" ........................................................................................... 89
IV. INTERNATIONAL LAW STANDARD OF TREATMENT .................................................................................... 90
A. The Protection of Customary International Law .................................................................................. 91
B. Fair and Equitable Treatment ............................................................................................................... 93
i. The Duty to Act in Good Faith ........................................................................................................ 93 ii. Fairness and Reasonableness ........................................................................................................ 94 iii. Treatment Free from Arbitrary Conduct ....................................................................................... 98 iv. Transparency ................................................................................................................................ 102 v. Protection Against Abuse of Rights ............................................................................................. 103 vi. Procedural Fairness ...................................................................................................................... 105 vii. Legitimate Expectations ............................................................................................................... 107 viii. Treatment Free from Political Motivation ................................................................................... 108 ix. Treatment Free from Discriminatory Conduct ............................................................................ 109
C. The Law of Full Protection and Security ............................................................................................. 111
D. The Severity of Violations of International Standards ....................................................................... 114
E. The Test is a Flexible One to be Applied in All the Circumstances ..................................................... 116
V. ARTICLE 1503(2): STATE ENTERPRISES MUST COMPLY WITH NAFTA CHAPTER 11 .................................. 117
VI. The Procurement defense Cannot Apply .................................................................................................. 120
A. The Article 1108 Defense ................................................................................................................... 120
B. Procurement Under the NAFTA ......................................................................................................... 121
i. The Concept of a "Procurement" ................................................................................................. 121 ii. Government Purposes ................................................................................................................. 122 iii. "Commercial Resale" ................................................................................................................... 122 iv. Article XVII of the GATT: State Trading Enterprises ..................................................................... 123 v. WTO Agreement on Government Procurement .......................................................................... 125 vi. The WTO's conclusions on the nexus of the Procurement Exemption ....................................... 125
PART FOUR: THE LAW APPLIED TO THE FACTS ................................................................................. 128
I. Performance Requirements ...................................................................................................................... 129
A. The Domestic Content Requirement is a Breach of Article 1106(1) .................................................. 129
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B. Mesa took steps to secure Domestic Content ................................................................................... 133
II. MOST FAVORED NATION TREATMENT ..................................................................................................... 135
A. Likeness .............................................................................................................................................. 135
B. Canada Provided Better Treatment to the Korean Consortium ........................................................ 139
i. The Government of Ontario reserved preferential transmission capacity for the Korean Consortium .................................................................................................................................. 141
ii. The Korean Consortium received better contract price for energy ............................................ 144 iii. The Korean Consortium was able to purchase the projects of unsuccessful FIT Applicants ....... 145 iv. Samsung delayed the ECT test that was never carried out ......................................................... 146 v. Working Group meetings provided Samsung with preferred access and opportunities ............ 150 vi. The Korean Consortium was able to increase its contract size ................................................... 151 vii. Additional Government Assistance.............................................................................................. 151
C. Canada provided better treatment regarding exceptions to others ................................................. 153
i. Negotiation of the Green Energy Investment Agreement ........................................................... 154 ii. The Korean Consortium was granted a force majeure provision ................................................ 156 iii. The Korean Consortium was granted beneficial Notice to Proceed provisions .......................... 156 iv. The Korean Consortium benefited through its Aboriginal Participation Level ............................ 156
D. Establishment, Expansion, Conduct and Operation ........................................................................... 157
E. Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................... 157
III. NATIONAL TREATMENT ............................................................................................................................ 159
A. Pattern Renewable Holdings Canada, is in like circumstances with the Investor. ............................. 159
i. Pattern Canada received Better Treatment than Mesa .............................................................. 160 ii. Pattern Canada obtained PPA terms that were more favorable than the standard FIT contract
available to proponents like Mesa Power ................................................................................... 161 iii. Pattern received privileged information and assistance through meetings with senior Ontario
Government Representatives ...................................................................................................... 162
B. Boulevard Associates Canada, Inc. is in like circumstances with the Investor. .................................. 163
i. Canada Provided Preferential Treatment to Boulevard Associates Canada, Inc. ........................ 164
C. NextEra Energy Resources, LLC is in like circumstances with the Investor. ....................................... 167
i. NextEra's privileged access to information as to the capacity availability at L7S ....................... 167 ii. NextEra had a close relationship with the Ontario Power Authority. ......................................... 168 iii. Ontario granted special privileges to NextEra by allowing NextEra's projects to connect to the
500 kV transmission line. ............................................................................................................. 170
D. Establishment, Expansion, Conduct and Operation ........................................................................... 176
E. Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................... 176
IV. INTERNATIONAL LAW STANDARD OF TREATMENT .................................................................................. 177 i. Unexpected and arbitrary changes to the FIT Rules .................................................................... 177 ii. NextEra influenced changes to the FIT Rules............................................................................... 184 iii. OPA unfairly permitted enabler requested projects to select connection points ....................... 187 iv. Failing to conduct an Economic Connection Test as required by the FIT Rules .......................... 188 v. Mesa Power expected its projects to participate in the ECT in 2010, and not conducting the ECT
deprived Mesa of the opportunity to compete for a FIT contract .............................................. 192 vi. The failure to conduct an ECT prior to the Bruce‐to‐Milton Capacity Allocation process caused
Mesa Power to lose contract awards .......................................................................................... 193
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vii. Delay in the FIT process in order to benefit Samsung and its partners ....................................... 194 viii. Failure to give reasons regarding the ranking process and the June 3, 2011 Rules changes ...... 197 ix. The MOE and the OPA failed to give reasons and explanations of the FIT ranking process to the
Investor ........................................................................................................................................ 198 x. Unfair ranking of projects ............................................................................................................ 200 xi. The 2010 project ranking under the FIT Program was arbitrary ................................................. 202 xii. Failure to operate the FIT Program fairly and transparently was contrary to Mesa's reasonable
and legitimate expectations ........................................................................................................ 203
PART FIVE: JURISDICTION ................................................................................................................. 206
I. The Legal Context ...................................................................................................................................... 207
A. Interpretation ..................................................................................................................................... 207
B. The Legal Regime of Articles 1120, 1119 and 1118 ........................................................................... 209
i. Article 1119 Notice Requirement ................................................................................................ 210 ii. Article 1118 Consultation Issue ................................................................................................... 210 iii. Article 1120 waiting period .......................................................................................................... 212
C. US‐Ecuador BIT notice provision is not comparable to Article 1120 ................................................. 213
D. The NAFTA Parties rejected the approach of the US‐Ecuador BIT ..................................................... 215
E. The timing requirements of Articles 1119 and 1120 .......................................................................... 216
II. The Factual Context .................................................................................................................................. 221
A. Domestic Content Requirements of the FIT Program ........................................................................ 221
B. Ontario's Mismanagement of FIT Program Rankings ......................................................................... 223
C. The Korean Consortium ...................................................................................................................... 224
D. Meeting with competitors and advanced notice of Connection Point changes ................................ 225
III. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................. 228
PART SIX: DAMAGES ......................................................................................................................... 229
I. The Obligation to Pay Damages ................................................................................................................ 229
II. Legal Issues ............................................................................................................................................... 229
A. The "But For" Test .............................................................................................................................. 229
B. Consequential damages ..................................................................................................................... 230
C. Lost Profits .......................................................................................................................................... 231
D. Mitigation ........................................................................................................................................... 233
E. Opportunity Loss: Interest and Costs ................................................................................................. 233
III. Summary of Valuation Report .................................................................................................................. 235
A. Damage Suffered by the Investor ....................................................................................................... 236
i. Discount Cash Flow Analysis ........................................................................................................ 236
PART SEVEN: RELIEF REQUESTED ..................................................................................................... 238
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PART ONE: SUMMARY
I. OVERVIEW
1. This case involves unfairness and abuse of the renewable energy regulatory process by
the Government of Ontario. The objective of increasing the production and use of
renewable energy is laudable– but the Government of Ontario, through inappropriate
measures, transformed sustainable energy policies into discriminatory local
development policies, where transparent and objective criteria were replaced with
political favoritism, cronyism and local preference.
2. These non‐legitimate objectives were achieved through the imposition of discriminatory
non‐transparent "buy local" contract requirements upon foreign investors who made
investments in Ontario in the expectation that the Power Purchase Agreement process
would be conducted in good faith, openly, transparently and on the basis of the
program rules. Instead, Power Purchase proponents found capricious and arbitrary
decisions, inherent discrimination against foreign entrants, and last‐minute non‐
transparent and arbitrary changes, which frustrated the long‐term renewable energy
contracts of those foreign investors who "played by the transparent rules of the game".
3. Renewable energy is presenting societies with tremendous opportunities to diversify
their energy supplies in an environmentally sustainable manner. With the growth in
popularity of environmentally‐sustainable energy consciousness, producers of
renewable energy have played an important role in facilitating societal shifts towards
more sustainable energy production. This shift presented increased investment
opportunities for renewable energy producers to expand to new markets, bringing the
benefits of renewable energy to new locations.
4. A key reform of the Ontario electricity system introduced in the Electricity Restructuring
Act of 2004 was the creation of the Ontario Power Authority (OPA), which was
responsible for overall long‐term system planning, ensuring reliable and secure
electricity supply, and promoting the diversification of Ontario's electricity supply with a
particular emphasis on renewable and clean energy.1
5. The Ontario Government has developed a series of programs to secure renewable
energy. These programs included the Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program
1 Canada – Certain Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy Generation Sector, Report of the Panel, WT/DS412/R,
19 December 2012 ("Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report"), at para. 7.24 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001)
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(RESOP) and the Renewable Energy Supply (RES) Requests for Proposals (RFP) which
occurred in three phases I, II, and III.2
6. The RESOP Program was developed in 2005, and was open to smaller facilities with up
to 10 MW of capacity.3 The RES program, in contrast, was for large renewable energy
projects. This competitive bid program had three rounds of contract offers. RES I,
developed in 2004, awarded contracts for facilities with an aggregate capacity of 395
MW.4 A year later in June 2005, the OPA issued the RES II RFP for 1,000 MW of
renewable generation capacity. RES II differed from RES I in that it was limited to wind
or solar projects, whereas RES I allowed bids from other renewable sources. Like RES I
Contracts, the RES II Contracts were for a term of 20 years and were awarded to those
proposed renewable generation projects with the lowest proposed prices.5 More than
three years later, in August of 2008, the OPA issued the RES III RFP for 500 MW. All
three RES Programs offered contracts with 20‐year terms.6
7. In the spring of 2009, the Province of Ontario undertook a major shift in its energy
policy. The Government of Ontario launched a Renewable Energy Feed‐In‐Tariff
Program (FIT Program) to promote the generation, and consumption of renewable
energy in the province.7
8. The Green Energy Act was enacted on May 14, 2009 and created the FIT Program.8 The
FIT Program encouraged the production of renewable energy in Ontario. The renewable
electric power obtained through the FIT Program is sold into the Ontario electrical grid
for use by individual customers across Ontario. The Ontario Power Authority, a public
body controlled by the Province of Ontario, is responsible for implementing the
Program, including the setting of prices and the administration of contracts.9
9. Ontario's grossly unfair and contrived governmental measures resulted in direct and
calculated harm to foreign‐owned wind farm projects.
10. The victim of this unfair behavior was Mesa Power Group, LLC (Mesa), a Delaware
limited liability Corporation. It owns Mesa Wind, LLC (Mesa Wind), which in turn owns
and controls Mesa AWA, LLC (Mesa AWA).10 Mesa participated in the laudable goals of
2 Hogan Report, at pp. 30‐34 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0320) 3 Hogan Report, at pp. 32‐33 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0320) 4 Hogan Report, at pp. 31‐32 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0320) 5 Hogan Report, at p. 32 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0320) 6 Hogan Report, at p. 32 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0320) 7 Hogan Report, at p. 32 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0320) 8 Green Energy Act, 2009, SO 2009, c.12, Sched. A (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0003) 9 Electricity Act, 1998, S.O. 1998, c. 15 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401) 10 Corporate Chart of the Mesa Power Group, as at October, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0055)
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Ontario's renewable energy production program through its ownership of wind farm
projects located in the province of Ontario.
11. The broader context of the conduct complained of in this dispute is that of a provincial
government which has been repeatedly found to have engaged in political manipulation
and interference in the regulatory processes when it suited its own partisan interests.
This conduct culminated in the resignation of the then‐Ontario premier in disgrace, after
the exposure of attempts to frustrate an inquiry into the massive misuse of government
funds to appease local interests through the deceptive withholding or destruction of
subpoenaed documents related to another energy project in Ontario.11 The Premier had
also gone to lengths such as proroguing the province's legislature to block a
parliamentary inquiry.12
12. Another scandal had its origins in the Premier using a decree to bypass a competitive
bidding process to hire a CEO of a government agency in the health administration
sector who in turn without following normal procedures spent large amounts of the
agency's budget on a small number of highly paid "consultants". In that case, the
Premier lied to the public that an independent review was being conducted while never
actually signing the contract with the independent auditor that was supposed to
conduct the review.13
13. The treatment of Mesa, in this case is, in fact, just another episode in a saga of
maladministration, scandal, political interference, manipulation and contempt for the
rule of law that dominated Ontario until the resignation of the Premier early in 2013.
Fortunately, the investor can rely on the protection of the NAFTA to ensure that fairness
and the rule of law are protected.
14. Ontario, and thereby Canada, failed to provide treatment to the Investments in
accordance with the obligations of NAFTA Article 1106 by imposing minimum domestic
content restrictions upon the Investor as a precondition of participating in the
renewable electrical energy market in Ontario.
15. Ontario, and thereby Canada, failed to provide treatment to the Investments in
accordance with national treatment as required by NAFTA Article 1102 by failing to
provide Mesa and its Investments with treatment with respect to electricity
11 CBC News, News Release, "Dalton McGuinty staffers broke law by deleting gas plant emails", June 5, 2013
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0004) 12 National Post Article "Kelly McParland: Here lies the wreckage of Dalton McGuinty's self‐serving gas plant
decisions", September 10, 2013 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0057) 13 Office of the Auditor General of Ontario, Special Report, "Ontario's Electronic Health Records Initiative",
October, 2009, at pp. 8, 36 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0007); Globe and Mail, News Release, "McGuinty quietly drops eHealth review", July 22, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0008)
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transmission access and Power Purchase Agreements other treatment in the regulatory
and administrative process as favourable as that provided to other domestic Canadian
companies who were in like circumstances with Mesa.
16. Ontario, and thereby Canada, failed to provide treatment to the Investments in
accordance with most favoured nation treatment as required by NAFTA Article 1103 by
failing to provide Mesa and its Investments with treatment with respect to electricity
transmission access and Power Purchase Agreements other treatment in the regulatory
and administrative process as favourable as that provided to other companies from
other NAFTA Parties or from non‐NAFTA parties who were in like circumstances with
Mesa.
17. Ontario, and thereby Canada, failed to provide treatment to the Investments in
accordance with international law standard of treatment contained in NAFTA Article
1105 as a result of:
a) Government of Ontario actions to change the rules for awarding Wind Power
Purchase Agreement contracts under the FIT Program. This governmental direction
had the result of having the OPA ignore technical considerations of the merits of the
Investor's wind farms, relying instead on capricious and irrelevant political
considerations in the awarding of the contracts;
b) Modifying governing rules for transmission interconnection in a non‐transparent,
unpredictable manner, not based on legitimate regulatory considerations;
c) Imposing prohibited "buy local" performance requirements as a precondition of
obtaining approval of commercial contracts under the FIT Program. These
requirements were doubled during the operation of the FIT Program. Another
prohibited performance requirement imposed by the FIT Program required Ontario‐
based content as a precondition for a long‐term contract under the Program; and
d) Providing more favorable transmission treatment to Korea‐based Samsung,14 to
Samsung's Canadian‐based local wind projects in Ontario and to energy investments
seeking Power Purchase Agreements from Boulevard Power, Canada, a domestic
Canadian company.
All of this treatment was more favourable than that provided to the Investor and its
Investments which were in like circumstances with these other investments in the
acquisition of transmission access and a Power Purchase Agreement. The effect of these
14 On January 21, 2010, Samsung C&T signed a $7 billion green energy investment agreement with Ontario's
Premier and Ontario's energy minister. This agreement granted Samsung significantly better access to supply renewable energy to the provincial energy grid than to other energy providers in the province.
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various measures has caused loss and damage to Mesa Power and to the Investor's
related business operations.
18. In May 2009 the Government of Ontario launched the Feed‐In‐Tariff Program to
promote the generation, and consumption of renewable energy in the province. It is in
this context that Mesa entered Ontario's energy market.
19. Under the FIT Program, interested parties were invited to apply for a Power Purchase
Agreement (PPA). A FIT PPA guaranteed wind and solar energy producers a fixed price
per unit of electricity produced for a period of 20 years.15 Applicants to the FIT program
were ranked according to pre‐announced criteria. Applicants with the highest rankings
were awarded contracts, based on available transmission capacity within Ontario's
capacity‐bound power grid.16 In order to be awarded a FIT contract, proponents also
had to guarantee that a certain amount of equipment used and services provided in the
generation of the facility to produce their energy was manufactured in Ontario.17
20. The Preamble to the Green Energy Act states that the "Government of Ontario is
committed to fostering the growth of renewable energy projects, which use cleaner
sources of energy, and to removing barriers to and promoting opportunities for
renewable energy projects and to promoting a green economy."18 In his review of
government spending, the Ontario Auditor General has reported that "attract[ing]
investment in renewable energy" was one of the main priorities of the Act.19
21. The Green Energy Act which created the FIT Program and was supported by
accompanying Ministerial Directions, were strong market signals from Ontario
encouraging investment in its renewable electricity sector.
22. The Act also included features to encourage investors to invest in Ontario's green‐
energy market. To ensure that the programs were operated in a manner that maximized
investor confidence, the statutory scheme provided that:
a) The renewable energy producers in the FIT Program receive a guaranteed price for
renewable energy supplied to the Ontario electricity grid, and a guaranteed market
for the energy produced and supplied to the grid.20
15 Hogan Report, at p. 35 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0320) 16 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, Program Overview, August, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0141) 17 Ontario Power Authority, FIT Rules Version 1.5, June 3, 2011, at para. 6.4 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0005) 18 Green Energy Act, S.C. 2009 c.12, Preamble (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0003) 19 Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario, 2011, at p. 87 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228) 20 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, Program Overview, August, 2010, Section 1.3 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0141)
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b) To be considered for the FIT Program, wind power projects were initially required to
achieve a minimum of 25% of domestic content from the province of Ontario.21 This
level was increased to 50% for power projects that became operational after January
1, 2012.22 Wind power projects over 10 kW were further required to be evaluated
under the FIT Program. Projects were evaluated against other projects in their
geographic electricity transmission zone (which was defined by the Program). The
evaluation considered four components:
i) expertise of wind power development,
ii) financial capacity,
iii) guaranteed access for wind turbine supply and
iv) permitting.23
The evaluation of these criteria resulted in a priority ranking score. This priority ranking
score was then used to award contracts to program applicants within each geographic
region.
23. A successful applicant under the FIT Program would receive a PPA from the OPA, that
guaranteed a purchase price over a twenty year period.24 In July 2011, this guaranteed
purchase price was 13.5 cents per kilowatt hour.25
24. On January 21, 2010, two Korean‐based companies, Samsung C&T (Samsung) and
Korean Electric Power Company (KEPCO) signed a $7 billion Green Energy Investment
Agreement (GEIA) with Ontario's Minister of Energy26 (Samsung and KEPCO together are
referred to as the "Korean Consortium".)27 While the existence of the Agreement was
public, the terms of the agreement were kept secret before this NAFTA claim was
commenced. This secret Agreement granted Samsung significantly better access to
supply renewable energy to the provincial energy grid than to other energy providers in
the province. In exchange for providing renewable energy, the GEIA reserved a fixed
amount of Ontario's overall transmission capacity for renewable energy PPAs from
members of the Korean Consortium.
21 Ontario Power Authority, FIT Rules Version 1.5, June 3, 2011, at para. 6.4(a)(i) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0005) 22 Ontario Power Authority, FIT Rules Version 1.5, June 3, 2011, at para. 6.4(a)(i) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0005) 23 In the event of a tie, then preference would be given to the project with the earliest dated wind lease. 24 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, Program Overview, August, 2010, at para. 6.4 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0141) 25 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, Program Overview, August, 2010, at p. 13 (Investor's Schedule
of Exhibits at C‐0141) 26 Green Energy Investment Agreement, January 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0322) 27 Green Energy Investment Agreement, January 21, 2010, Article 9.1 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0322)
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25. Samsung thereby received a guaranteed right of first refusal on transmission access in
certain transmission zones in the Province of Ontario. For example, Samsung was
guaranteed 500 MW of transmission access in the Haldimand, Essex and Chatham‐Kent
transmission zone, totalling 20% of all available capacity in this region.28 Samsung was
also guaranteed "priority access" to 500 MW of transmission capacity in the Bruce
Region of Ontario.29 No other company was granted such favourable treatment.
26. Mesa applied under the FIT Program for six different PPAs to sell wind energy. It applied
for its first two projects on November 25, 2009: Arran Wind Energy and Twenty Two
Degrees Wind Energy Projects, and its second set of projects on May 29, 2010,
Summerhill I and II and North Bruce I and II.30
27. Japan and the EU brought challenges to the operation of the FIT Program before the
World Trade Organization (WTO). Concerns were raised about the FIT Program's
discriminatory domestic minimum content requirements imposed on every FIT
proponent, which provided more favourable treatment to local content and local service
providers over foreign ones. National Treatment and Subsidies concerns were also
raised. Canada defended the FIT Program by claiming that it was not a subsidy and also
on the basis that the other violations were justified within the WTO's Procurement
Exception to the national treatment obligation (in GATT Article III:8).
28. The WTO Panel ruled against Canada. It found that the minimum domestic content
rules were discriminatory and also violations of national treatment. 1) It found that
the minimum domestic content requirements violated the National Treatment
obligation in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade but also the performance
requirements provisions of the WTO investment code, the Trade‐Related Investment
Measures (TRIMs) Agreement.
29. An appeal of the panel report was taken to the WTO Appellate Body (AB). The AB came
to the same conclusions as the panel, but on different grounds. For the AB, Canada
could not rely on the procurement exception for Canada's national treatment violation
because the FIT Program was not related to the government procurement of energy
itself, but imposed a minimum domestic content requirement upon producers of
28 Letter from George Smitherman (Minister of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to OPA, September 30,
2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0105) 29 Green Energy Investment Agreement, at para. 7.3 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0322) 30 OPA FIT application submitted for Twenty Two Degree Wind Energy Project, November 25, 2009 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0364) and OPA FIT Application submitted for Arran Wind Project, November 25, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0129) See also OPA FIT Applications for North Bruce I (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0360) , North Bruce II (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0361) , Summerhill I (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0368) , and Summerhill II (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0369)
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renewable power. Also, the AB concluded that there was not sufficient evidence to
establish whether there was a subsidy present.31
A. The Investor
30. Mesa is a Delaware Limited Liability Corporation created in July 2008.32 Its head office is
in Dallas, Texas.33 The Mesa group of companies were created to oversee and develop
renewable energy projects, notably in the wind sector.34
31. The day to day operations of the Mesa are overseen by Cole Robertson, Vice President
of Finance, who is in charge of day‐to‐day operations and Mark Ward, Chief
Development Officer and Executive Vice‐President.35
B. The Investments
32. Mesa wholly owns and controls the following four wind farm investments in
southwestern Ontario:
a) TTD Wind Project ULC (TTD) is an unlimited liability corporation incorporated in the
Province of Alberta.36 The TTD Wind Project is designed to allow for the generation
of 150 MW of wind power;
b) Arran Project ULC (Arran) is an unlimited liability corporation incorporated in the
Province of Alberta.37 The Arran Project is designed for the generation of 115 MW of
wind power;
c) North Bruce Project ULC (North Bruce) is an unlimited liability corporation
incorporated in the Province of Alberta.38 The North Bruce Project applied for Power
Purchase Agreements under the FIT Program for 200 MW of wind power; and
d) Summerhill Project ULC (Summerhill) is an unlimited liability corporation
incorporated in the Province of Alberta.39 The Summerhill Project applied for Power
Purchase Agreements under the FIT Program for 100 MW of wind power.
31 The WTO process is discussed in considerable more detail in Part One: I(C) 32 Certificate of Formation, Mesa Renewables, LLC, from the State of Delaware, July 11, 2008 (Investor's Schedule
of Exhibits at C‐0117) 33 Limited Liability Company Agreement of Mesa Renewables, LLC, May 20, 2008, at p. 1 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0039) 34 CWS ‐ Robertson, at para. 7. 35 CWS ‐ Robertson, at para. 2. 36 Certificate of Incorporation for TTD Wind Project ULC under the Alberta Business Corporations Act, November
17, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0087) 37 Certificate of Incorporation for Arran Wind Project ULC, November 17, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0049) 38 Certificate of Incorporation for North Bruce Project, ULC, April 6, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0050)
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Re: Mesa Power Group v. Canada November 20, 2013
33. Mesa's ownership of enterprises in Canada qualifies as an Investment under Article
1139(a) of the NAFTA.40 Mesa Power owns the Ontario wind projects through four
companies incorporated in the Canadian Province of Alberta.41 In addition to the
interests in the enterprise, Mesa's interests include:
a) Real estate and other property, both tangible and intangible, including interests in
lands and leases in Ontario on which wind turbines were to be built;42 and
b) Tangible and intangible property "acquired in the expectation or used for the
purpose of economic benefit or other business purposes" and
c) "Interests arising from the commitment of capital or other resources in the territory
of a Party to economic activity in such territory"43, including rights to receive a FIT
contract from the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) based upon their priority ranking.
39 Certificate of Incorporation for for the Summerhill Project ULC, under the Alberta Business Corporations Act,
April 6, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0041) 40 NAFTA Article 1139 "Investment means: (a) an enterprise" 41 NAFTA Article 201 Definitions of General Application: "enterprise means any entity constituted or organized
under applicable law, whether or not for profit, and whether privately‐owned or governmentally‐owned, including any corporation, trust, partnership, sole proprietorship, joint venture or other association"
42 See the OPA FIT application submitted for Twenty Two Degrees Wind Project on November 25, 2009, for sample leases (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0364)
43 NAFTA Article 1139
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Re: Mesa Power Group v. Canada November 20, 2013
34. The graphic below reflects the location of Mesa Power's four wind projects within the province of Ontario:
Memorial of the Investor Page ‐11‐ Re: Mesa Power Group v. Canada November 20, 2013
35. The Corporate Organisation of the Mesa Group is outlined below:
36. The wind power investments at issue in this arbitration are owned by Mesa through four
Alberta corporations: TTD Wind Project ULC, Arran Project ULC, North Bruce Project,
ULC, and Summerhill Project ULC (collectively "Mesa's Investments").44
37. Since Mesa's Investments in Canada are ultimately wholly‐owned by an American
enterprise, Mesa Power Group, LLC ("Mesa") meets the definition of an American
investor with a Canadian investment as defined by NAFTA Article 1139.
44 Certificate of Incorporation for TTD Wind Project ULC under the Alberta Business Corporations Act, November
17, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0087); Certificate of Incorporation for Arran Wind Project ULC under the Alberta Business Corporations Act, November 17, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0049); North Bruce Project, ULC Certificate of Incorporation Certificate of Incorporation for North Bruce Project ULC under the Alberta Business Corporations Act, November 17, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0050); Certificate of Incorporation for Summerhill Project ULC under the Alberta Business Corporations Act, November 17, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0041)
AWA Arran Development, LLC
AWA North Bruce Development, LLC
AWA Summerhill Development, LLC
AWA TTD Development, LLC
Arran Holdings, ULC
North Bruce Holdings, ULC
Summerhill Holdings, ULC
22 Degrees Holdings, ULC
Arran Wind Project, ULC
North Bruce Project, ULC
Summerhill Project, ULC
TTD Wind Project, ULC
Mesa AWA,
LLC
Mesa Wind,
LLC
Mesa Power
Group, LLC
American Wind
Alliance LLC
Memorial of the Investor Page ‐12‐ Re: Mesa Power Group v. Canada November 20, 2013
i. Canadian Business Operations
38. Mesa decided to invest in Ontario in 2009 following the announcement of Ontario's
Green Energy and Green Economy Act (the Green Energy Act).45 Mesa commenced
investments with plans and other works by local wind power energy developers.
39. Leader Resources Services Corp submitted two FIT applications during the FIT Launch
Period on Mesa's behalf: TTD Wind Project and the Arran Project.46 Mesa Power, on
May 29, 2010, made four additional FIT applications for two additional wind projects,
the North Bruce Project and the Summerhill Project.47
40. Mesa's developers in Ontario managed the FIT process and the obtaining of necessary
permits and easements along with undertaking necessary site studies.48
C. The Dispute at the World Trade Organization over the FIT Program
41. After the announcement of the FIT Program by Ontario, concerns were raised by some
of Canada's international trading partners about the patent unfairness and
discrimination that was contained in provisions of the FIT Program. Eventually, both the
European Union and Japan raised formal complaints about the operation of Ontario's
FIT Program to the WTO.
42. Canada is required to answer at the WTO for measures taken by its sub‐national
governments. As a result, Canada was required to respond to the EU and Japanese
complaints.
43. A WTO panel was struck to consider the operation of the Ontario FIT Program. The
complaints at the WTO primarily focused on the FIT minimum domestic content
requirements imposed by Ontario, which were found to be inconsistent with prohibited
performance requirements contained in the WTO Trade‐Related Investment Measures
Code (TRIMs Agreement). There were also complaints about violations of national
treatment and whether the FIT Program constituted a subsidy.49
45 CWS ‐ Robertson, at para. 8. 46 CWS ‐ Robertson, at para. 21; See also OPA FIT application submitted for Twenty Two Degree Wind Energy
Project, November 25, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0364) and OPA FIT Application submitted for Arran Wind Project, November 25, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0129)
47 Summerhill Wind Energy I, FIT Application, May 29, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0362), Summerhill Wind Energy II, FIT Application, May 29, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0363), North Bruce Wind Energy I, FIT Application, May 29, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0360), North Bruce Wind Energy II, FIT Application, May 29, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0361)
48 CWS ‐ Robertson, at para. 15. 49Both complainants claimed that the challenged measures are inconsistent with Articles 3.1(b) and 3.2 of the
Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, Apr. 15, 1994, Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, Annex 1A, The Legal Texts: The Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade
Memorial of the Investor Page ‐13‐ Re: Mesa Power Group v. Canada November 20, 2013
44. The Panel concluded that Canada did not meet its WTO commitments through the
operation of the FIT program.
45. At the WTO, Canada denied that there was a violation of the TRIMs Agreement,50 denied
a violation of national treatment51 and pleaded that the FIT Program did not constitute a
subsidy.52 Canada also alleged that it was justified in violating the local domestic
content prohibitions in the TRIMs Agreement because Canada viewed the FIT Program
as constituting government procurement not with a view to commercial resale under
Article III:8 of the GATT.53
46. The Panel Reports were circulated to WTO Members on December 19, 2012.54 The WTO
Panel made findings in three principal areas: Minimum Domestic Content, National
Treatment and Subsidies.
a) The Panel's Minimum Domestic Content Findings:
i) The Panel concluded that Canada had violated the TRIMs Agreement because
the FIT Program imposed minimum domestic content as a requirement for the
Program;55
ii) Canada had purported to invoke a defence to this question, that under Article
III:8(a) of the GATT 1994, the FIT Program is not subject to the national
Negotiations, 231 (1999), 1869 U.N.T.S. 14 ("SCM Agreement") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐198); Article 2.1 of the TRIMS Agreement: Agreement on Trade‐Related Investment Measures, Apr. 15, 1994, Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, Annex 1A, The Legal Texts: The Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, 143 (1999), 1868 U.N.T.S. 186 ("TRIMs Agreement") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐199); Article III:4 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT). Further information about the factual aspects of these disputes is set forth in greater detail in paragraphs 2.1 and 7.9‐7.68 of the Panel Report, and in section 4 of the Appellate Body Reports. Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at paras. 7.166‐7.167 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001); Canada – Certain Measures Affecting The Renewable Energy Generation Sector, Canada – Measures Relating To The Feed‐In Tariff Program, WT/DS412/AB/R, Reports of the Appellate Body, (February 19, 2013) ("Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ AB Report"), at paras. 5.124 and 5.128 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐002)
50 Canada ‐ Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy Generation Sector, WT/DS412, First Written Submission of Canada (December 22, 2011) ("Canada ‐ Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy Generation Sector"), at paras. 100‐101 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐003)
51 Canada ‐ Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy Generation Sector, at paras. 62‐99 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐003)
52 Canada – Measures Relating to the Feed‐in Tariff Program, WT/DS426, First Written Submission of Canada (March 6, 2012) ("Canada ‐ Measures Relating to the Feed‐in Tariff Program"), at paras. 5s‐81 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐004)
53 Canada ‐ Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy Generation Sector, at paras. 62‐101 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐003)
54 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 55 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at paras. 7.166‐7.167 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at
CL‐001)
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treatment obligations of Article III.56 Canada contended this is because the laws
and requirements that create and implement the FIT Program are laws and
requirements that govern the procurement of renewable electricity for the
governmental purpose of securing an electricity supply for Ontario consumers
from clean sources, and "not with a view to commercial resale or with a view to
use in the production of goods for commercial sale".57 Both Japan and the
European Union contested that characterization;58 and
iii) In the result, the Panel concluded that Canada could not meet its burden to
prove that the defence under Article III:8 applied because the electricity that was
being obtained was for commercial resale to Ontario consumers through the
Ontario power grid.59
b) The Panel's National Treatment Findings:
i) The Panel also concluded that the TRIMs violation of the FIT Program also
violated national treatment obligations in the GATT.60 While Article III:8(a) of the
GATT provides a limited exception to National Treatment for government
procurement‐related measures, the FIT Program did not constitute government
procurement based on the definition in Article III:8 (a).61 The FIT Panel held that
the Program is not a procurement when its workings are properly understood,
and does not meet the requirement that it be "not with a view to commercial
resale."62
c) The Panel's Subsidy Findings:
i) Canada also contended before the Panel that the FIT Program did not meet the
definition of a subsidy under the broad definitions in the WTO Subsidies and
Countervailing Duties Agreement.63 Over the objections of Japan and the
56 Canada ‐ Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy Generation Sector, at paras. 66‐99 (Investor's Schedule of
Legal Authorities at CL‐003) 57 Canada ‐ Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy Generation Sector, at paras. 66‐99 (Investor's Schedule of
Legal Authorities at CL‐003) 58 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at paras. 7.74‐7.77 and 7.81‐7.85 (Investor's Schedule of Legal
Authorities at CL‐001) 59 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.152 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 60 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.167 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 61 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.152 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 62 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at paras. 7.146‐7.151 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at
CL‐001) 63 Canada ‐ Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy Generation Sector, at paras. 102‐150 (Investor's Schedule of
Legal Authorities at CL‐003); Canada ‐ Measures Relating to the Feed‐in Tariff Program, at para. 48‐81 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐004)
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European Union, the Panel, in a split‐decision, concluded that there was no
subsidy.64
47. The WTO AB issued a Report on May 25, 2013. The AB concluded that there was a
violation of the TRIMs Agreement65 and the Complainant failed to establish that the
challenged measures confer a ‘benefit' within the meaning of the SCM Agreement
Article 1.1(b) and there a subsidy did not exist. There was no challenge before the AB to
the panel finding that Canada violated national treatment, so this panel finding
continued.66
a) The AB's Minimum Domestic Content Findings:
i) The AB concluded that Canada had violated the TRIMS Code because the
program imposed minimum domestic content as a requirement for the
program;67 and
ii) The AB rejected Canada's use of the procurement exception in Article III:8(a) of
the GATT 1994, by finding that the laws and requirements that create and
implement the FIT Program requiring minimum domestic content were not laws
and requirements that govern the procurement of renewable electricity but laws
related to the procurement of machinery by those seeking to apply to the
program – and thus do not meet the requirements of the exception.68
b) The AB's National Treatment Findings:
i) Canada did not challenge the Panel finding that the FIT Program violated the
GATT Article III:4 national treatment obligation.69 Canada was unsuccessful in its
appeal of the Panel finding that the GATT Article III:8(a) procurement exception
was applicable. Therefore, the finding that the FIT Program violates national
treatment stands.70
c) The AB's Subsidy Findings:
i) Over the objections of Japan and the European Union, the AB held that there
was no subsidy in the FIT Program.71 The AB was critical of the panel's choice of
benchmark but it found insufficient factual findings from the Panel to be able to
64 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.328 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 65 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ AB Report, at para. 5.79 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐002) 66 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ AB Report, at para. 5.85 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐002) 67 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ AB Report, at para. 5.85 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐002) 68 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ AB Report, at para. 5.79 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐002) 69 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ AB Report, at para. 5.85 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐002) 70 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ AB Report, at para. 5.79 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐002) 71 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ AB Report, at para. 5.246 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐002)
Memorial of the Investor Page ‐16‐ Re: Mesa Power Group v. Canada November 20, 2013
complete the analysis of whether a benefit under SCM Article 1(1)(b) was
conferred.72
48. Canada has contended that the FIT program is not a subsidy since its inception. In a
Minister's Office Briefing Note dated April 28, 2010, the Ministry of Energy stated that
"the domestic content policy of the Feed‐in Tariff Program… does not represent a
subsidy because the FIT prices are paid for by the province's electricity customers."73
49. The NAFTA Tribunal in Canfor v. United States determined that expressions by a
disputing party of a legal position on measures at issue in a NAFTA arbitration before
another economic law fact finding tribunal, such as the WTO, were expressions of that
government's position and that admissions against interest made in another process
were relevant and admissible before the NAFTA Tribunal.74
D. The Ontario Power Authority
50. The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) is listed as an "agency" of the Government of
Ontario on the Government's All Agencies List75, responsible for managing Ontario's
electricity supply76 and resources in order to meet its medium and long‐term needs.77
51. The OPA was established under the Electricity Restructuring Act, 2004, which amended
the Electricity Act, 1998, as "[a] corporation without share capital"78, and operates its
72 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ AB Report, at para. 5.219 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐002) 73 Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure "Meeting with Solar Consortium to Discuss Demand and Supply of Solar PV
Modules" Slideshow, April 28, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0173) 74 Canfor Corporation v. The United States of America, Decision on Preliminary Question (June 6, 2006) ("Canfor v.
US") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐005) 75 The Government of Ontario defines "agency" as "a provincial government organization: [i] which was established
by the government, but is not part of a ministry; [ii] which is accountable to the government; [iii] to which the government appoints the majority of the appointees; and [iv] to which the government has assigned or delegated authority and responsibility, or which otherwise has statutory authority and responsibility to perform a public function or service." Public Appointments Secretariat, All Agencies List (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits C‐0419); Public Appointments Secretariat, General Information (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0420)
76 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.37 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 77 In Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.37 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001),
the WTO Panel found that the OPA "is an "agency" of the Government of Ontario." The Panel states that the OPA "falls within the "legislative responsibility" of the Government of Ontario's Ministry of Energy, and receives and executes directives from the Minister of Energy." Significantly, the WTO Report of the Appellate Body (Canada – Certain Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy Generation Sector) found, "while it is true that the OPA is the entity charged with paying FIT suppliers for delivered electricity and Hydro One is the entity transmitting electricity, both entities were found by the Panel to be "public bod[ies]" within the meaning of Article 1.1(a)(1) of the SCM Agreement," and thus, its actions are "attributable to the government," para. 5.124. The Appellate Body determined that "the Government of Ontario purchases electricity through the FIT Program and Contracts," ibid. Further, footnote 464 of the WTO Panel Report stated that "There is no dispute between the parties that the OPA and the IESO are "public bodies" for the purpose of the SCM Agreement."
78 Electricity Restructuring Act, 2004, S.O. 2004, c. 23 ‐ Bill 100, assented to December 9, 2004, s. 25.2(1). A search for cases citing s. 25.1 of the Electricity Act, 1998 or the Electricity Restructuring Act, 2004 did not produce any
Memorial of the Investor Page ‐17‐ Re: Mesa Power Group v. Canada November 20, 2013
business and affairs on a not‐for‐profit basis79. It falls within the "legislative
responsibility" of the Government of Ontario's Ministry of Energy80, and receives and
executes directives and directions from the Ministry of Energy81.
52. The OPA has been given responsibility for exercising "all powers and performing all
duties of the Crown", as stated in subsection 25.32(4) ("Transition") of the Electricity
Act, 1998:
(4) Despite subsection (2), the Minister may direct the OPA to assume, as of such date as the Minister considers appropriate, responsibility for exercising all powers and performing all duties of the Crown, including powers and duties to be exercised and performed through an agency of the Crown,
(a) under any request for proposals, draft request for proposals, another form of procurement solicitation issued by the Crown or through an agency of the Crown or any other initiative pursued by the Crown or through an agency of the Crown,
(i) that was issued or pursued after January 1, 2004 and before the Board's first approval of the OPA's procurement process under subsection 25.31 (4), and
(ii) that relates to the procurement of electricity supply or capacity or reductions in electricity demand or to measures for the management of electricity demand; and
(b) under any contract entered into by the Crown or an agency of the Crown pursuant to a procurement solicitation or other initiative referred to in clause (a).82
53. When assessing bids and granting contracts for electricity in Ontario the OPA is
governed by the Ontario Power Authority Procurement Process Regulations.83
54. The OPA was also the subject of judicial review in Skypower v. Minister of Energy and
Ontario Power Authority.84
55. The OPA is a publicly‐funded entity established by the Minister of Energy. The OPA's
budget is set by the Ministry of Energy as part of the annual provincial budget of the
cases. A search for the term "legislative responsibility" produced 112 cases in Ontario. A review of the cases did not provide any meaningful discussion/definition of the term nor any analysis as to whether it implied the entity was a public body/agent of the Crown (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0144)
79 Electricity Restructuring Act, 2004, S.O. 2004, c. 23 ‐ Bill 100, assented to December 9, 2004, Section. 25.1(2) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0144)
80 Ontario Power Authority, Website, "Ontario's energy sector today", Undated (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0250)
81 Ontario Power Authority, "Directives to OPA from Minister of Energy" August 16, 2013 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0245)
82 Electricity Act, 1998 subsection 25.32(2) states that "the OPA shall not enter into a procurement contract that does not comply with, (a) the regulations; or (b) a direction issued under subsection (4), (4.1), (4.2), (4.3), (4.4), (4.5), (4.6) or (4.7) or section 25.35." (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401)
83 Electricity Act, 1998: Ontario Power Authority Procurement Process, O. Reg 426/04 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401)
84 Skypower CL 1 LP et al. v. Minister of Energy (Ontario) et al. 2012 ONSC 4979, Reasons for Judgment, September 10, 2012 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0006)
Memorial of the Investor Page ‐18‐ Re: Mesa Power Group v. Canada November 20, 2013
Ontario Ministry of Finance.85 OPA employees are subject to the Public Sector Salary
Disclosure Act.86
56. The Minister is responsible for appointing the board members of the OPA, who in turn
appoint a CEO.87 The OPA's board, made of up the CEO and ten other individuals, is
responsible for managing and supervising the management of the OPA's business and
affairs.88
57. OPA's employees are considered to be "public sector" employees in keeping with their
inclusion in the Public Sector Salary Disclosure89, where "public sector", according to the
Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, 1996, means:
the Crown in right of Ontario, every agency thereof, and every authority, board, commission, corporation, office or organization of persons a majority of whose directors, members or officers are appointed or chosen by or under the authority of the Lieutenant Governor in Council or a member of the Executive Council.90
58. There are numerous other ways in which the Minister of Energy is responsible for the
management of the OPA and its exercise of governmental authority. While the OPA
drafts its by‐laws, they must be approved by the Minister.91 The Minister also controls
and directs the OPA through the approval of the OPA's yearly business plan, which must
be submitted and approved by the Minister92.
59. The OPA is set up to act as an extension of the Ministry of Energy and its Minister, both
of which are directly involved in technical and substantive aspects of the OPA. It is a
primary means to execute and achieve their policy objectives, such as facilitating
Ontario's power supply to include a larger reliance on renewable energy and
administering the FIT Program. Ministerial directives and directions empower the OPA
and grant it the requisite governmental authority to carry out its tasks.
60. The Minister's authority to issue directives and directions is rooted in the Act (as
amended in 2004). Subsection 25.35 of the Act provides:
85 Ministry of Energy, The Estimates 2012‐13, Ministry Program Summary, July 4, 2013, at p. 1 (Investor's Schedule
of Exhibits at C‐0102) 86 Ministry of Finance, Disclosure for 2011 under the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, 1996, "Other Public Sector
Employers", Undated, at pp. 45‐47 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0249) 87 Electricity Act, 1998, Section 25.4(2) and 25.6(1) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401) 88 Electricity Act, 1998, Section 25.4(1) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401) 89 Ministry of Finance, Disclosure for 2011 under the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, 1996, "Other Public Sector
Employers", Undated, at pp. 45‐47 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0249) 90 Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, 1996, S.O. 1996, Chapter 1, Schedule A, s.2(1) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits
at C‐0402) 91Electricity Act 1998 s 25.16 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401) 92 Electricity Act, 1998, s 25.22 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401)
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1. The Minister may direct the OPA to develop a feed‐in tariff program that is designed to
procure energy from renewable energy sources under such circumstances and conditions, in consideration of such factors and within such period as the Minister may require.
2. Where the Minister has issued a direction under subsection (1), the Minister may issue, and the OPA shall follow in preparing its feed‐in tariff program, directions that set out the goals to be achieved during the period to be covered by the program…
The power to issue directions enables the Minister of Energy to direct the OPA in
various areas including "procurement solicitation" relating to the "procurement of
electricity supply", administrative matters and the establishment and administration of
the FIT Program. 93
61. The OPA is not permitted to enter into procurement contracts that do not comply with
the Regulations or with a direction from the Minister.94
62. Nothing about the FIT Program – not form or substance, was possible in the absence of
governmental authority and governmental action that empowered the OPA to act.
There is no definition of "directions" in the Act, and ministerial directions take many
different forms, including verbal communications and emails.
63. Once the first direction creating the FIT Program was issued by the Minister, a series of
subsequent directions further defined and implemented the Program, bestowing the
requisite governmental authority in the OPA to carry out the Program.
64. The Minister's directions are publically available and accessible on the OPA's website.95
65. The OPA exercises "all powers and performing all duties of the Crown."96 Ontario's
Ministry of Energy has legislative responsibility over it, 97 and must give it directives and
directions in order for it to fully function. 98
66. The OPA is therefore, without doubt, an organ of the Government of Ontario in
accordance with principles set out in Article 4 of the ILC Articles on State Responsibility.
67. From the very beginning, it was known that the OPA was created to be part of the
structure of the Ontario government. During the debates of the Electricity Restructuring
Act, 2004 before the Standing committee on Social Policy, Ontario's Minister of Energy,
Mr. Dwight Duncan, declared about the OPA, "they'll be an arm of the government of
93 Electricity Act, 1998, ss 25.32(4.1) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401) 94 Limits on the OPA's powers regarding procurement contracts are set out in s. 25.32(2) of the Electricity Act, 1998
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401) 95 Ontario Power Authority, "Directives to OPA from Minister of Energy" August 16, 2013 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0245) 96 Electricity Act, 1998, ss. 25.32(4) ("Transition") (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401) 97 Ontario Power Authority, Website, "Ontario's energy sector today", Undated (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0250) 98 Ontario Power Authority, "Directives to OPA from Minister of Energy" August 16, 2013 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0245)
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Ontario."99 This status is confirmed by the OPA being listed as an "agency" of the
Government of Ontario on the Government's All Agencies List.100
68. In his commentary on the ILC Articles, Professor James Crawford notes, "The reference
to a "State organ" covers all the individual or collective entities which make up the
organization of the State and act on its behalf."101 Professor Crawford concludes, "The
reference to a State organ in Article 4 is intended in the most general sense."102
69. Professor Crawford also explains that "It is not sufficient to refer to internal law for the
status of State organs… A State cannot avoid responsibility for the conduct of a body
which does in truth act as one of its organs merely by denying it that status under its
own law."103
70. Canada admitted before the WTO that the Ontario Power Authority was a governmental
agency, and acknowledged that the panel report confirms the admission:
Canada points out that there is no dispute between the parties that the OPA is a governmental agency104.
71. The WTO Panel also expressly held, "The OPA is an ‘agency' of the Government of
Ontario responsible for managing Ontario's electricity supply and resources in order to
meet its medium and long‐term needs."105
72. Canada admitted that "it does not dispute that in certain instances the OPA exercises
governmental authority or acts directly upon the instructions of Ontario, such that its
actions are attributable to Canada."106
73. The Panel then observed that government "purchases [of] goods" require the
involvement of the "government" or a "public body". In the Panel's view, this is what
99 Standing committee on social policy, Electricity Restructuring Act Official Report of Debates (Hansard), August 9,
2004, at p. SP‐7 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0196) 100 The Government of Ontario defines "agency" as "a provincial government organization: [i] which was
established by the government, but is not part of a ministry; [ii] which is accountable to the government; [iii] to which the government appoints the majority of the appointees; and [iv] to which the government has assigned or delegated authority and responsibility, or which otherwise has statutory authority and responsibility to perform a public function or service." Public Appointments Secretariat, All Agencies List (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0419); Public Appointments Secretariat, General Information (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0420)
101 James Crawford, The International Law Commission's Articles on State Responsibility: Introduction, Text and Commentaries (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2002) ("Crawford (2002)") at 94 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐006)
102 Crawford (2002), at p. 95 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐006) 103 Crawford (2002), at p. 98 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐006) 104 Canada ‐ Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy Generation Sector, at para. 70 (Investor's Schedule of Legal
Authorities at CL‐003) 105 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.37 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 106 Canada's Request for Bifurcation, at para. 10
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happens through the FIT Program and Contracts, where the combined actions of all
three "public bodies" involved (i.e. the OPA, Hydro One Inc., and the IESO) show that the
Government of Ontario purchases electricity within the meaning of Article 1.1(a)(1)(iii)
of the SCM Agreement.107 The Panel was also clear that because the purchase was for
commercial resale, the measures were not covered by Article III:8 of the GATT.108
74. The WTO Appellate Body upheld the finding of the WTO Panel109 that the OPA was a
public body,110 and the Appellate Body maintained the Panel's characterization of the
OPA as a public body.111
75. As the OPA was directed by the Minister of Energy with respect to the FIT Program, all
of the actions taken by the OPA in this arbitration impute responsibility to Canada under
ILC Article 8.
76. Article 8 provides:
Conduct directed or controlled by a State
The conduct of a person or group of persons shall be considered an act of a State under international law if the person or group of persons is in fact acting on the instructions of, or under the direction or control of, that State in carrying out the conduct.
77. To the extent that any actions are not covered by ILC Article 8, then there is state
responsibility for Canada under ILC Article 4.
78. The actions of the OPA were directed by the Ontario Ministry of Energy. The Minister's
directives were issued pursuant to his statutory authority.
79. Most of the operations involved in the FIT Program were taken by the OPA under the
directives and direction of the Minister of Energy. In those circumstances, the actions of
the OPA, acting under the direction of the Ministry, result in undeniable State
Responsibility under Article 8 of the ILC Articles on State Responsibility.
80. To the extent that Canada is not responsible for the OPA under ILC Articles 8 and 4,
Canada retains plenary responsibility to ensure adequate supervision and control of the
OPA under Article 1503(2) of the NAFTA. In addition, the obligation of full protection
and security, which is an integral part of NAFTA 1105, requires Canada to exercise due
diligence that the treatment of the investor by the OPA does not undermine the
protection of a stable, transparent, non‐arbitrary regulatory framework.
107 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.239 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 108 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.152 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 109 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at paras. 7.231‐7.239 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at
CL‐001) 110 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report , at para. 7.37 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 111 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ AB Report, at paras. 5.124 and 5.128 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at
CL‐002)
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81. In any case, as the facts will establish, the specific relevant conduct of the OPA was
intertwined with and inseparable from the acts and omissions of government officials
giving the OPA directions or otherwise influencing or guiding its conduct.
E. The Independent Electricity System Operator
82. Electrical power in Ontario is historically a "governmental" matter and, until 1998,
electricity was administered by Ontario Hydro, a crown agency. Under the restructured
Ontario power sector, entities within the sector continued to exercise governmental
authority.
83. The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) is owned and controlled by the
Province of Ontario.112 The IESO was established under the Electricity Act, 1998 to run
day to day operation of the power supply in Ontario, and to forecast immediate
consumption needs.113 It is a crown corporate entity without share capital that is
involved in all aspects of the system, including generation, transmission, and
distribution. The IESO also establishes the Hourly Ontario Energy Prices, which is the
hourly price set for the cost of electricity to Ontario consumers on a floating basis,
influenced by supply and demand.114 The IESO then collects payments and distributes
them to electricity generators through the Ontario Power Authority.115
84. The IESO operates under a Board of Directors appointed by the Minister of Energy116 and
conducts its business and affairs on a not‐for‐profit basis117. It falls within the "legislative
responsibility" of the Government of Ontario's Ministry of Energy118, and is required to
submit a yearly business plan for approval to the Minister119as well as any other report
requested by the Minister.120
85. The operation of Ontario's power supply, in particular the transmission system, is
managed and operated entirely by the IESO as part of the Government of Ontario.
Under Section 5 of the Electricity Act, 1998 the IESO is authorized, among other things,
to:
112 Ministry of Energy, The Estimates 2012‐13, Ministry Program Summary, July 4, 2013, at p. 1 (Investor's Schedule
of Exhibits at C‐0102) 113 Ministry of Energy, The Estimates 2012‐13, Ministry Program Summary, July 4, 2013, at p. 1 (Investor's Schedule
of Exhibits at C‐0102) 114 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at p. 43 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 115 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report , at p. 49 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 116 Electricity Act, 1998, s. 7(2)(b) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401) 117 Electricity Act, 1998, Part II, s. 5(2) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401) 118 Ontario Power Authority, Website, "Ontario's energy sector today", Undated (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0250) 119 Electricity Act, 1998, s. 19.1(1) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401) 120 Electricity Act, 1998, s. 22(1) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401)
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a) enter into agreements with transmitters giving the IESO authority to direct the
operation of their transmission systems;
b) direct the operation and maintain the reliability of the IESO‐controlled grid;
c) participate in the development by any standards authority of standards and criteria
relating to the reliability of transmission systems.121
86. The IESO is listed as an "agency" of the Government of Ontario on the Government's All
Agencies List.122
87. The WTO Panel considered the role of the IESO, and concluded that the IESO had two
roles, including a financial role. 123 The Panel stated:
This not only involves the IESO monitoring and directing the movement of electricity across the IESO‐controlled grid, but also the settlement of payments between market participants. In this latter respect, the IESO explains its role as follows: "In the physical market, we collect funds from buyers and transfer funds to sellers. We do not actually take title to energy, and we are, by law, revenue neutral". The settlement process in the physical market comprises four steps: (i) gathering and processing metering data to produce settlement‐ready data; (ii) using the settlement‐ready data to determine revenue owed to suppliers, costs for consumers, and various overhead costs payable by market participants; (iii) invoicing participants; and (iv) transferring funds between energy purchasers and suppliers.124
88. The IESO meets the requirements of a state organ as it is an entity that "make[s] up the
organization of the State and acts on its behalf" to ensure a working power supply
system for the Province.125
89. ILC Article 4 provides that organs are those that exercise "legislative, executive, judicial,
or any other functions."126 The establishment, composition, purpose, and function of the
IESO shows that, in the words of Professor Crawford, it is "a body which does in truth
act as one of its organs".127
121 Electricity Act, 1998 section 5(1) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401) 122 The Government of Ontario defines "agency" as "a provincial government organization: [i] which was
established by the government, but is not part of a ministry; [ii] which is accountable to the government; [iii] to which the government appoints the majority of the appointees; and [iv] to which the government has assigned or delegated authority and responsibility, or which otherwise has statutory authority and responsibility to perform a public function or service." Public Appointments Secretariat, All Agencies List (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0419); Public Appointments Secretariat, General Information (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0420)
123 IESO: Settlement Statements and Invoices (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0415) 124 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.40 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 125 Crawford (2002), at p. 94 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐006) In addition to looking at how
organs are official classified, Professor Crawford in the Commentary to the ILC Articles, states one must also undertake a qualitative analysis as "[t]he reference to a State organ in Article 4 is intended in the most general sense." p. 95
126 International Law Commission, Draft Articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts with Commentaries, November 2001, Supplement No. 10 (A/56/10), chp.IV.E.1 ("ILC Articles with Commentaries"), at p. 40 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐08)
127 Crawford (2002), at p. 98 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐006)
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90. In the alternative that the IESO is not considered to be an organ of the state under
Article 4 of the ILC Articles on State Responsibility, the IESO exercises delegated
governmental authority, making it an agency of the state under ILC Article 5.128 Article 5
of the ILC Articles provides that the conduct of a state entity is attributable to the state
if it is empowered by the law of the state to exercise elements of governmental
authority. The conduct of a state entity may also be attributable to the state where the
functions it exercises are of a public character akin to that of a state organ. The acts of
such an entity are attributable to the state even if the entity operates with independent
discretion, and its conduct was not under the control of the state.129
91. Examples of the governmental authority that the IESO is empowered by to:
a) activities that have historically always been conducted by Crown Agencies, including:
acting as the Reliability Co‐ordinator for the province,
b) operating the wholesale electricity market,
c) managing the settlements and financial operations of the $10 billion wholesale market
and oversee emergency preparedness activities for Ontario's power system.
92. As the IESO is a state enterprise pursuant to the definition in Annex 1505, Canada also
retains plenary responsibility to supervise and ensure the compliance of the IESO with
the obligations of NAFTA Chapter Eleven pursuant to NAFTA Article 1503(2). In addition,
the obligation of full protection and security, which is an integral part of NAFTA 1105,
requires Canada to exercise due diligence that the treatment of the investor by the IESO
does not undermine the protection of a stable, transparent, non‐arbitrary regulatory
framework.
F. Hydro One
93. Hydro One is wholly owned and controlled by the Government of Ontario,130 and is
responsible for operating transmission and distributions systems throughout Ontario. It
was established under the Energy Competition Act, 1998 to "operate generation
facilities and distribution systems in, and shall distribute electricity within, such
communities as may be prescribed by regulation."131 The largest of its subsidiaries,
Hydro One Networks, operates 97% of the high voltage transmission grid throughout
128 ILC Articles with Commentaries, Article 5 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐08) 129 ILC Articles with Commentaries, at p. 43, at para. (7) (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐08) 130 HydroOne Website Page, Shareholder Directives (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0418); 2011 Annual
Report of the Auditor General, at p. 34 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228) 131 Electricity Act, 1998 s. 48.1(1) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401)
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Ontario, serving approximately 1.3 million customers in rural areas across the
Province.132
94. Hydro One is a critical part of Ontario's network of energy agencies and acts on behalf of
the Province. It falls within the "legislative responsibility" of the Government of
Ontario's Ministry of Energy133, and receives and executes directions from the Ministry
of Energy134.
95. Hydro One exercises the powers of the Province to operate generation facilities and
distributions systems in accordance with conditions and restrictions prescribed by
regulation. As the sole shareholder of Hydro One, the Ministry of Energy retains the
power to acquire, hold, dispose of and otherwise deal with the securities, debt
obligations, or any other interest of Hydro One or any of its subsidiaries.135
96. In its operation of generation facilities and distributions systems, and its distribution of
electricity within communities, Hydro One carries out "legislative, executive, judicial, or
any other functions" as required by the text of ILC Article 4.
97. Hydro One also works with other public bodies in the energy sector, such as the IESO
and the OPA, in relation to transmission capacity, demand management and
conservation.
98. Hydro One's operating budget is part of the Ministry of Energy's yearly reports and is
listed as an "agency" of the Government of Ontario on the Government's All Agencies
List.136
99. Hydro One also qualifies as an agency under ILC Article 5.
100. Hydro One exercises governmental authority previously exercised by the Crown Agency,
Ontario Hydro and continues to exercise control and authority over the Ontario power
sector.
132 HydroOne Website Page, Our Subsidiaries (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0417) 133 Ontario Power Authority, Website, "Ontario's energy sector today", Undated (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0250) 134 Ontario Power Authority, "Directives to OPA from Minister of Energy" August 16, 2013 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0245) 135 Electricity Act, 1998, s 49(1) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401) 136 Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. "Results‐based Plan Briefing Book 2010‐2011." pp. 33‐34 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0403); the Government of Ontario defines "agency" as "a provincial government organization: [i] which was established by the government, but is not part of a ministry; [ii] which is accountable to the government; [iii] to which the government appoints the majority of the appointees; and [iv] to which the government has assigned or delegated authority and responsibility, or which otherwise has statutory authority and responsibility to perform a public function or service." Public Appointments Secretariat, All Agencies List (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0419); Public Appointments Secretariat, General Information (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0420)
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101. Hydro One is a state enterprise pursuant to the definition in Annex 1505. Canada also
has responsibility to supervise and ensure the compliance of Hydro One with the
obligations of NAFTA Chapter Eleven pursuant to NAFTA Article 1503(2). In addition, the
obligation of full protection and security, which is an integral part of NAFTA 1105,
requires Canada to exercise due diligence that the treatment of the investor by the
Hydro One does not undermine the protection of a stable, transparent, non‐arbitrary
regulatory framework.
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II. CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS
Date Steps
May 14, 2009
The Ontario Government enacts the Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009 enabling the Minister of Energy to establish a feed‐in tariff program ("FIT") for renewable energy.
September 24, 2009
Minister of Energy issues a direction to the Ontario Power Authority ("OPA") to establish the FIT Program and initial FIT Rules released by the OPA
November 25, 2009
Two of Mesa's projects, Arran Wind Energy and Twenty Two Degrees Wind Energy, submit FIT Applications
January 21, 2010
Green Energy Investment Agreement between Samsung, KEPCO (together the "Korean Consortium") and the Government of Ontario is signed. Agreement gives the Korean Consortium preferential treatment and access to Power Purchase Agreements for renewable energy.
April 1, 2010
Minister of Energy issues direction to the OPA to begin negotiating Power Purchase Agreements with the Korean Consortium and to give priority to these projects over FIT Program projects when assessing transmission availability.
May 29, 2010
Four additional Mesa projects, Summerhill Wind Energy I and II and North Bruce Energy I and II, submit FIT Applications
December 21, 2010
FIT Priority Ranking List released. Arran and Twenty Two Degrees Wind Projects ranked 8th and 9th in the Bruce Transmission Area.
June 2010 ‐ May 2011
Meetings held between NextEra, the Ontario Government and a number of energy sector state entities including the OPA to discuss NextEra's projects and the possibility of changing connection points.
June 3, 2011
Minister of Energy direction for a connection point amendment window in FIT Rules version 1.5 released.
June 6‐10, 2011
Connection Point Amendment window opened, allowing FIT applicants to change their connection points while maintaining their provincial ranking. As a result, projects in the Bruce Region are bumped out of contention for FIT contracts.
July 4, 2011
OPA announces FIT contracts for the Bruce Region. None of Mesa's projects are offered contracts.
July 29, 2011
Minister of Energy issues a direction to the OPA to enter into a Power Purchase Agreement with the Korean Consortium or its Project Companies
July 29, 2011
The Korean Consortium and Government of Ontario amend the GEIA so as to allow for a one year extension of their commercial operation date so as to match the requirements of the FIT Program and to allow for more flexibility and time to obtain necessary approvals in advance of construction.
August 3, 2011
OPA signs six Power Purchase Agreements with the Korean Consortium. The terms of the PPAs are comparable to those of the FIT contracts with a special bonus price, the "Economic Development Adder" specified in the GEIA (0.27 cents per kWh for wind)
August 10, 2012
FIT version 2.0 rules released. Ranking system is changed to include new factors.
June 12, 2013
The Minister of Energy issues a direction cancelling the FIT Program for projects over 500 kw. All of Mesa's projects were over 500 kw.
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III. BREACH OF OBLIGATIONS
102. This arbitration involves measures taken by the Government of Ontario and its
instrumentalities, and includes measures taken by its officials and agents, and by
measures taken by its public agencies, including the OPA, the IESO and Hydro One.
103. The measures relating to the FIT Program includes, but is not limited to:
a) the Electricity Act, 1998, as amended, including in particular Part II.1 (Ontario Power
Authority), and Part II.2, (Management of Electricity Supply, Capacity and Demand)
thereof, including, in particular, Section 25.35 (Feed‐in tariff Program);137
b) the Green Energy Act, 2009, as enacted on May 14, 2009;138
c) the Electricity Restructuring Act, 2004, including in particular Section A, Section 28,
enacting Part II.1 of the Electricity Act, 1998;139
d) FIT Direction dated September 24, 2009, from George Smitherman, Deputy Premier
and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, to Colin Anderson, Chief Executive
Officer, Ontario Power Authority, directing OPA to develop a FIT Program and to
include a requirement that the applicant submit a plan for meeting the domestic
content goals in the FIT Rules (Ministerial Direction (September));140
e) FIT Direction dated April 1, 2011 from the Minister of Energy to Colin Anderson,
Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Power Authority, (Ministerial Direction (April
2011));141
f) FIT Direction dated June 3, 2011 from the Minister of Energy to Colin Anderson,
Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Power Authority, (Ministerial Direction (June
2011));142
g) FIT Direction dated August 2, 2011 from the Ontario Minister of Energy to Colin
Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Power Authority, (Ministerial Direction
(August 2, 2011));143
137 Electricity Act, 1998, S.O. 1998, c.15 Schedule A, last amended 2010, c.8 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0401) 138 Green Energy Act, S.C. 2009 c.12, Schedule. A (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0003) 139 Electricity Restructuring Act, 2004, S.O. 2004, c. 23 ‐ Bill 100, assented to December 9, 2004, Section 25.1(1)
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0144) 140 Letter from George Smitherman (Minister of Energy and Infrastructure) to Colin Andersen (OPA), September 24,
2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0264) 141 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to OPA, April 1, 2010
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0079) 142 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA June 3,
2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0046)
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h) FIT Rules, Version 1.5 issued on June, 3 2011 and amended on July 15, 2011by the
OPA;144
i) FIT Contract, Version 1.5 (June 3,2011), including General Terms and Conditions,
Exhibits, and Standard Definitions, issued by the OPA;145
j) FIT Application Form (December 1, 2009);146
k) FIT Price Schedule (August 13, 2010), issued by the OPA;147
l) Public Press Release from Minister of Energy, the Honourable Brad Duguid, August 3,
2011;148
m) FIT Program Interpretations of the Domestic Content Requirements, issued by the
OPA; and149
n) all amendments or extensions of the foregoing, replacement measures, renewal
measures, implementing measures, and related measures.
Each of these governmental measures was taken by the Government of Ontario or by its
agents, agencies or instrumentalities.
104. The rejection of the Investor's four wind power projects was a further step in a
continuing course of arbitrariness, discrimination, and unfairness that began in
November 25, 2009. These measures constituted a failure to provide fair and equitable
treatment to Mesa's Investment. Canada has thereby violated its Article 1105 obligation
through the Government of Ontario's unfair, arbitrary and discriminatory actions. These
measures include, but are not limited to:
a) Unannounced last‐minute changes, contrary to the reasonable and legitimate
expectations of the Investment;
b) Failure to provide reasons for the ranking methodology applied by the OPA;
c) Undue political interference and discriminatory treatment of the Investment and
blatant favoritism to other investments;
d) Failure to provide transparent administration of the FIT Program;
143 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Anderson (OPA), Direction to the OPA, August 2,
2012 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0084) 144 FIT Rules Version 1.5.1, July 15, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0237); 145 FIT Contract version 1.5, at Exhibit D (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0263) 146 For example, see Online OPA FIT Application, Arran Wind Energy, Undated (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0188) 147 FIT Price Schedule, August 13, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0045) 148 Ontario Ministry of Energy Article "Statement from Ontario Minister of Energy Brad Duguid," dated August 3,
2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0022) 149 FIT Contract version 1.5, at Exhibit D (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0263)
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e) Imposition of irrelevant political considerations when assessing the Investment; and
f) Failure to apply relevant considerations such as the technical merits of the Investor's
wind farm.
Each of the ways in which the Government treated the Investment in an unfair, arbitrary
and discriminatory way constitutes a violation of NAFTA Article 1105.
105. NAFTA Article 1106 requires Canada to not impose domestic minimum content
requirements on an investor. Canada violated this obligation through the imposition of
minimum domestic content requirements in the FIT Program. This violation began on
November 25, 2009.
106. NAFTA Article 1102 requires Canada to provide treatment equivalent to the most
favourable treatment given to a local investment in Canada in like circumstances.
Canada violated its natural treatment obligation by providing more favourable
treatment to local companies who were in like circumstances with Mesa, such as
Pattern Canada and Boulevard Canada. These violations began on November 25, 2009.
107. NAFTA Article 1103 requires Canada to provide treatment equivalent to the most
favourable treatment given to an investor or investment from another NAFTA Party or
non‐NAFTA Party in like circumstances. This breach began on November 25, 2009.
108. Canada violated its Most Favoured Nation obligation by providing more favourable
treatment to renewable energy power purchase competitors, such as Samsung, Pattern
Energy and NextEra, all of whom who were in like circumstances with Mesa.
109. NAFTA Article 1104 entitles the Investor to better treatment as required by NAFTA
Articles 1102 and 1103.
110. The OPA also acted on the direction of, and as agent for, the Province of Ontario. In
these circumstances, Canada is responsible directly for the measures and conduct of the
OPA under Article 4 and 8 of the ILC Articles of State Responsibility.
111. Canada did not comply with its obligations under NAFTA Article 1503(2), by failing to
ensure through regulatory control, administrative supervision, or the application of
other measures, that the OPA, the IESO and Hydro One acted in a manner consistent
with Canada's obligations under NAFTA Chapter Eleven, in their exercise of regulatory,
administrative and governmental authority.
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IV. INTERPRETATION OF THE NAFTA
A. Relevant Provisions of NAFTA
112. NAFTA Article 102(2) sets out the manner in which the NAFTA is to be interpreted and
applied:
2. The Parties shall interpret and apply the provisions of this Agreement in the light of its objectives set out in paragraph 1 and in accordance with applicable rules of international law.
Coupled with the objectives of the NAFTA, set out in Article 102, the preamble is an
integral part of the NAFTA.
113. NAFTA Article 1131(1) confirms that Tribunals constituted under Section B of Chapter 11
of NAFTA "shall decide the issues in dispute in accordance with this Agreement and
applicable rules of international law."
114. In the Canadian Marketing Practices case, the NAFTA Chapter Twenty Panel addressed
the principles to be applied in the interpretation of the NAFTA:
The Panel also attaches importance to the trade liberalization background against which the agreements under consideration must be interpreted. Moreover, as a free trade agreement, the NAFTA has the specific objective of eliminating barriers to trade among the three contracting Parties. The principles and rules through which the objectives of the NAFTA are elaborated are identified in NAFTA Article 102(1) as including national treatment, most‐favored nation treatment and transparency. Any interpretation adopted by the Panel must, therefore, promote rather than inhibit the NAFTA's objectives.150
115. The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties sets out the applicable rules of
international law for the interpretation of treaties.151 Canada's Statement of
Implementation provides that NAFTA Article 102(2) affirms "a basic provision of
customary international law regarding the interpretation of international agreements as
set out in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties."152
116. In the Ethyl case, the NAFTA Tribunal noted that "Canada is a party to the Vienna
Convention" and that "the United States accepts it as a correct statement of customary
international law."153 The Tribunal concluded that "given that 84 States are parties to the
150 In the Matter of Tariffs Applied by Canada to Certain U.S. – Origin Agricultural Products, Final Report of the
Panel, Secretariat File No. CDA‐95‐2008‐01, (December 2, 1996) ("Origin Agricultural Products ‐ Panel Report"), at para. 122 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐010)
151 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969) (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐011) 152 Canadian Statement on Implementation, North American Free Trade Agreement, Canada Gazette Part 1,
January 1, 1994 ("Canadian Statement on Implementation"), at p. 76 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐012)
153 Ethyl Corp. v. Canada, Jurisdiction Award, 1998 WL 34334636 (June 24, 1998) ("Ethyl Corp ‐ Jurisdicition Award"), at para. 52 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐013) reprinted in The Islamic Republic of Iran v The United States of America, Doc No. 32‐A18‐FT (6 Apr. 1984), 5 Iran‐U.S. Cl. Trib. Rep. 251, 259 (1984)
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Vienna Convention (as of 15 April 1998), and that Articles 31 and 32 ‘were adopted
without a dissenting vote', [the Articles of the Vienna Convention] clearly ‘may be
considered as declaratory of existing law'."154
117. The objectives of the NAFTA, which are also critical to its proper interpretation are set
out in Article 102(1):
Article 102: Objectives
The objectives of this Agreement, as elaborated more specifically through its principles and rules, including national treatment, most‐favored‐nation treatment and transparency, are to:
a) eliminate barriers to trade in, and facilitate the cross‐border movement of, goods and
services between the territories of the Parties;
b) promote conditions of fair competition in the free trade area;
c) increase substantially investment opportunities in the territories of the Parties;
d) provide adequate and effective protection and enforcement of intellectual property
rights in each Party's territory;
e) create effective procedures for the implementation and application of this Agreement,
for its joint administration and for the resolution of disputes; and
f) establish a framework for further trilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation to
expand and enhance the benefits of this Agreement. [emphasis added]
B. Interpretation in Accordance with the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
118. Article 31 of the Vienna Convention reflects customary international law, when
interpreting treaties, including the NAFTA.155 The International Court of Justice has held
that customary international law finds expression in Article 31 of the Vienna
Convention.156
("Iran‐US (1984)") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐014), where U.S. courts look to the Convention when interpreting the text of a treaty, see, e.g. Kreimerman v. Casa Veerkamp, A.S. de C.V. 22 F.3d 634, 638 (5th Cir. 1994), cert. den'd, 115 S.Ct. 577 (1994) ("Kreimerman") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐014); Day v. Trans World Airlines, Inc. 528 F.2d 31, 33 (2d Cit. 1975), cert. den'd. 429 U.S. 890 (1976) ("Day") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐014)
154 "Legal rules concerning the interpretation of treaties constitute one of the Sections of the Vienna Convention which were adopted without a dissenting vote at the Conference and consequently may be considered as declaratory of existing law". Ethyl Corp ‐ Jurisdicition Award, at para. 52 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐013) (citing Aréchaga, E. Jiménez de, "International Law in the Past Third of a Century", in Collected Courses of The Hague Academy of International Law, vol. 159 (The Netherlands: Suthoff & Noordhoff, 1978), at p. 9 (Chapter 1) ("Jiménez (1978)") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐017)
155 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969) (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐011); see A.D. McNair, The Law of Treaties (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1986) ("McNair (1986)"), at p. 465 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐018)
156 See Territorial Dispute (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya/Chad), Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1994 ("Territorial Dispute"), at para. 41 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐019); see Oil Platforms (Islamic Republic of Iran v.
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119. Article 31 provides:
1. A treaty shall be interpreted in good faith in accordance with the ordinary meaning to be given to the terms of the treaty in their context and in the light of its object and purpose.
2. The context for the purpose of the interpretation of a treaty shall comprise, in addition to the text, including its preamble and annexes:
a) any agreement relating to the treaty which was made between all the parties in
connection with the conclusion of the treaty;
b) any instrument which was made by one or more parties in connection with the
conclusion of the treaty and accepted by the other parties as an instrument related to
the treaty.157
120. The Tribunal in Siemens v Argentina held:
Both parties have based their arguments on the interpretation of the Treaty in accordance with Article 31(1) of the Vienna Convention. This Article provides that a treaty be interpreted in good faith in accordance with the ordinary meaning to be given to the terms of the treaty in their context and in the light of its object and purpose." The Tribunal will adhere to these rules of interpretation in considering the disputes provisions of the treaty.158
121. The Methanex Tribunal held that Article 31(1) of the Vienna Convention is comprised of
three principles:
a) The first general principle, good faith;
b) The second general principle, interpretation in accordance with the ordinary
meaning of a term; and
c) The third general principle, the term is not to be examined in isolation or in
abstracto, but in the context of the treaty and in the light of its object and
purpose.159
122. In addition to context, a tribunal may also consider the application of Articles 31(3) and
32 of the Vienna Convention:
Article 31(3): There shall also be taken into account, together with the context:
i) any subsequent agreement between the parties regarding the interpretation of the
treaty or the application of its provisions;
ii) any subsequent practice in the application of the treaty which establishes the
agreement of the parties regarding its interpretation;
United States of America), Preliminary Objection, Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1996,803 ("Oil Platforms ‐ Preliminary Objection"), at para. 23 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐020)
157 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969) (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐011) 158 Siemens A.G. v. Argentine Republic, Decision on Jurisdiction, 2004 WL 3249805 (August 3, 2004) ("Siemens ‐
Decision on Jurisdiction"), at para. 80 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐021) 159 Methanex Corporation v. United States of America, Final Award of the Tribunal on Jurisdiction and Merits, 2005
WL 1950817 (August 3, 2005) ("Methanex ‐ Award on Jurisdiction"), Part II, Ch. B, at para. 16 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐022)
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iii) any relevant rules of international law applicable in the relations between the parties.
Article 32: Recourse may be had to supplementary means of interpretation, including the preparatory work of the treaty and the circumstances of its conclusion, in order to confirm the meaning resulting from the application of article 31, or to determine the meaning when the interpretation according to article 31:
a) leaves the meaning ambiguous or obscure; or
b) leads to a result which is manifestly absurd or unreasonable.160
123. The ordinary meaning of the term "context" is set out in Black's Law Dictionary: "The
context of a particular sentence or clause in a statute, contract, will, etc., comprises
those parts of the text which immediately precede and follow it."161
124. Article 31(2) of the Vienna Convention also indicates that the "context" for treaty
interpretation includes its preamble and annexes, as well as (a) any agreement relating
to the treaty which was made between all the parties in connection with the conclusion
of the treaty; and (b) any instrument which was made by one or more parties in
connection with the conclusion of the treaty and accepted by the other parties as an
instrument related to the treaty.162
125. When States adopt a treaty that encompasses areas previously covered by customary
law, "it is well understood that, in practice, rules of [general] international law can, by
agreement, be derogated from in particular cases or as between particular parties".163
However, this does not imply an extinction of prior customary law, or the rules
regarding treaty interpretation.164 In this regard, the International Law Commission (ILC)
noted:
… Nor does the fact that agreements often set aside prior customary law translate into any automatic presumption in favor of later law. In fact it would be wrong to assume that there is a stark opposition between custom and treaty. On the one hand, treaties may be a part of the process of the creation of customary law. On the other hand, customary behavior undoubtedly affects the interpretation and application of treaties and may, in some cases, modify treaty law.
160 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969), arts. 31(3), 32 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at
CL‐011) 161 Black's Law Dictionary, 5th Edition (St Paul: West Publishing Co, 1979) at 290 ("Blacks (1979)"), at p. 290
(Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐023) 162 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969), art. 31.2 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐011) 163 North Sea Continental Shelf cases (Federal Republic of Germany/Denmark; Federal Republic of
Germany/Netherlands) I.C.J. Reports 1969, 3 ("Continental Shelf Cases (1969)"), at para. 72 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐024) See also Case Concerning the Continental Shelf (Tunisia/Libyan Arab Jamahiriya) (Merits) I.C.J. Reports 1982, 18 ("Continental Shelf Case (1982)"), at para. 24 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐025)
164 "Fragmentation of International Law: Difficulties Arising from the Diversification and Expansion of International Law" Report of the Study Group of the International Law Commission, finalized by Martii Koskenniemi, Fifty‐eighth session, Geneva, 13 April 2006, A/CN.4/L.682 ("Fragmentation of International Law"), at para. 224 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐026) (citing, see especially Hugh Thirlway, International Customary law and Codification (Leiden: Sijthoff, 1972), at pp. 95‐108).
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Because, as explained above, there is no general hierarchy of sources in international law, the relationship between a particular treaty and a particular customary norm will always remain to be decided on a case‐by‐case basis.165
126. The ILC also noted that the potential to "modify treaty law" "is presumed in a minimal
way by Article 31(3)(b) [of the Vienna Convention] that obliges the interpreter to have
regard to the subsequent practice of treaty parties.166 Another case is that of inter‐
temporal law, where "subsequent custom affects the interpretation of the open‐ended
or "mobile" terms of the treaty."167
C. The Expansion of International Law
127. As the context of the Treaty develops, the NAFTA must continue to be interpreted
according to the rules set out in the Vienna Convention, such as the following:
a) Interpretation in Good Faith in Accordance with Ordinary Meaning;
b) Context; and
c) Object and Purpose.
Collectively, this analytic framework provides a common sense approach to the
application of NAFTA provisions.
i. The NAFTA Free Trade Commission Interpretation
128. The FTC has issued several statements concerning the interpretation of some Chapter
11 provisions, including, Notes of Interpretation of Certain Chapter 11 Provisions (the
FTC Note), and Statements of the NAFTA Free Trade Commission on the Operation of
Chapter 11.168 The FTC Note was adopted to "clarify and affirm the meaning of certain
Chapter 11 provisions,"169 whereas the Statements were adopted to "enhance the
transparency and efficiency of Chapter 11 and provide guidance to investors and to
Tribunals constituted under Section B of the Chapter."170
165 Fragmentation of International Law, at para. 224 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐026) 166 Fragmentation of International Law, at para. 224, note 288 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐026) 167 Fragmentation of International Law, at para. 224, note 288 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐026) 168 "Notes of Interpretation of Certain Chapter 11 Provisions" (NAFTA Free Trade Commission, 31 July 2001), in
Appleton, B. NAFTA: Legal Text and Interpretative Materials (West Publishing, 2007) Vol 3, 1‐3 ("Appleton IV (2007)") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐189); Statements of the NAFTA Free Trade Commission on the Operation of Chapter 11, October 7, 2003 ("Statements of the NAFTA Free Trade Commission") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐028)
169 Appleton IV (2007), at p. 1 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐189) 170 Statements of the NAFTA Free Trade Commission (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐028)
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129. Professor Salacuse has noted that the distinction between these objectives "is especially
important in the light of Article 31(3)(a) of the Vienna Convention".171
130. To provide a single method for interpretation of the terms "fair and equitable
treatment" and "full protection and security" as contained in Article 1105(1), the FTC
Note provided:
Minimum Standard of Treatment in Accordance with International Law
1. Article 1105(1) prescribes the customary international law minimum standard of treatment of aliens as the minimum standard of treatment to be afforded to investments of investors of another Party.
2. The concepts of "fair and equitable treatment" and "full protection and security" do not require treatment in addition to or beyond that which is required by the customary international law minimum standard of treatment of aliens.
3. A determination that there has been a breach of another provision of the NAFTA, or of a separate international agreement, does not establish that there has been a breach of Article 1105(1).172
131. In its Jurisdictional Award, the NAFTA Tribunal in the UPS case recognized that "in any
event the FTC's interpretation is binding on Chapter 11 Tribunals including this one."173
132. Based on NAFTA Article 1131(1), the FTC Note must be applied "in accordance with…
applicable rules of international law."
133. Canada's Statement on Implementation provides that Canada always intended that the
Vienna Convention apply to all "Notes" to the NAFTA.174 Article 31(3) of the Vienna
Convention requires that treaty interpreters shall take into account, together with the
context of the treaty, all subsequent agreements, subsequent practice, relevant rules of
international law applicable as between the NAFTA State parties regarding the
interpretation and application of the NAFTA. Thus, when interpreting the FTC Note,
NAFTA Tribunals are bound to take into account, together with the context of the treaty,
171 Salacuse, J.W., The Law of Investment Treaties (New York: Oxford University Press, 2010); Excerpts ("Salacuse
(2010)"), at p. 149 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐029) (Salacuse noted that in comparison, while the FTC Note was debated as "an amendment" or "a subsequent agreement", the Statements of the NAFTA Free Trade Commission on the operation of Chapter 11 represent "mere ‘recommendations' and thus lack binding character").
172 Appleton IV (2007), at p. 2 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐189) 173 United Parcel Service v. Canada, Award on Jurisdiction, 2002 WL 32824213 (November 22, 2002) ("U.P.S. ‐
Jurisdiction"), at para. 96 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐030) 174 Canadian Statement on Implementation, at p. 76 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐012)
("Paragraph 2 of article 102 affirms a basic provision of customary international law regarding the interpretation of international agreements as set out in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. The Parties shall interpret and apply the provisions of the Agreement in the light of its objectives and in accordance with applicable rules of international law. For example, the "Notes" to the Agreement that follow the main body of the text set out agreed interpretations on various provisions of the Agreement, and thus are essential to an accurate understanding of the text.")
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all NAFTA provisions in the light of the NAFTA's objectives, and in accordance with
applicable rules of international law.
134. Article 1 of the ILC Articles on State Responsibility confirms that a failure to accord the
international law standard of treatment is a breach of international law. Article I states:
Every internationally wrongful act of a State entails the international responsibility of that State.175
Article 12 of the ILC Articles on State Responsibility states:
There is a breach of an international obligation by a State when an act of that State is not in conformity with what is required of it by that obligation, regardless of its origin or character.176
135. In the Pope & Talbot claim, the Tribunal held:
Canada considers that the principles of customary international law were frozen in amber at the time of the Neer decision. It was on this basis that it urged the Tribunal to award damages only if its conduct was found to be an "egregious" act or failure to meet internationally required standards. The Tribunal rejects this static conception of customary international law for the following reasons: First, as admitted by one of the NAFTA Parties, and even by counsel for Canada, there has been evolution in customary international law concepts since the 1920's...Secondly, since the 1920's, the range of actions subject to international concern has broadened beyond the international delinquencies considered in Neer to include the concept of fair and equitable treatment....177
136. The Mondev Tribunal followed a similar approach. The Tribunal rejected the application
of the Neer standard to investment protection cases because Neer did not deal with
foreign investment but rather a state's duty to investigate crimes:
The Tribunal would observe, however, that the Neer case, and other similar cases that were cited, concerned not the treatment of foreign investment as such but the physical security of the alien. Moreover the specific issue in Neer was that of Mexico's responsibility for failure to carry out an effective police investigation into the killing of a United States citizen by a number of armed men who were not even alleged to be acting under the control or at the instigation of Mexico. In general, the State is not responsible for the acts of private parties, and only in special circumstances will it become internationally responsible for a failure in the conduct of the subsequent investigation. Thus, there is insufficient cause for assuming that provisions of bilateral investment treaties, and of NAFTA, while incorporating the Neer principle in respect of the duty of protection against acts of private parties affecting the physical security of aliens present on the territory of the State, are confined to the Neer standard of outrageous treatment where the issue is the treatment of foreign investment by the State itself.178
175 ILC Articles (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐009) 176 ILC Articles (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐009) 177 Pope & Talbot Inc v. Government of Canada, Award on Damages, 2002 WL 32824211 (May 31, 2002) ("Pope &
Talbot ‐ Award on Damages"), at para. 57‐60 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐032) A similar conclusion was reached in S.D. Myers, Inc. v. Government of Canada, First Partial Award, 2000 WL 34510032 (November 12, 2000) ("S. D. Myers ‐ First Partial Award "), at para. 259 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐033)
178 Mondev International Ltd. v. United States, Award, 2002 WL 32841359 (October 11, 2002) ("Mondev ‐ Award"), at para. 115 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐034)
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137. The Tribunal also rejected the Neer standard as being inapplicable to contemporary
international law. The Tribunal held:
Secondly, Neer and like arbitral awards were decided in the 1920s, when the status of the individual in international law, and the international protection of foreign investments, were far less developed than they have since come to be. In particular, both the substantive and procedural rights of the individual in international law have undergone considerable development. In the light of these developments it is unconvincing to confine the meaning of ‘fair and equitable treatment' and ‘full protection and security' of foreign investments to what those terms ‐ had they been current at the time ‐ might have meant in the 1920s when applied to the physical security of an alien. To the modern eye, what is unfair or inequitable need not equate with the outrageous or the egregious. In particular, a State may treat foreign investment unfairly and inequitably without necessarily acting in bad faith.179
138. The Mondev Tribunal's decision was subsequently approved in the TECMED claim180 and
was also followed by the NAFTA Tribunal in Merrill & Ring v. Canada.181
179 Mondev – Award, at para. 116 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐034) 180 Técnicas Medioambientales, TECMED S.A. v. The United Mexican States, Award, 2003 WL 24038436 (May 29,
2003) ("TECMED ‐ Award"), at para. 153 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐035) 181 Merrill & Ring ‐ Award, at para. 163, 213 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐036)
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PART TWO: STATEMENT OF FACTS
139. The Statement of Facts is based on the documents referenced below and the witness
statements and expert reports filed with this Memorial:
a) The Witness Statement of Cole Robertson, Vice President of Finance for Mesa Power
Group LLC, in regard to the impact of the measures; and
b) The Independent Valuators' Report of Robert Low, CBV and Richard Taylor, CBV, of
Deloitte LLP, confirming the Investor's damages arising from Canada's NAFTA
violations.
140. Following the Statement of Facts, the Memorial contains the following additional parts:
a) Part Three considers the substantive legal issues;
b) Part Four considers the application of the law;
c) Part Five considers jurisdictional and procedural issues;
d) Part Six sets out the damage caused to the Investor; and
e) Part Seven sets out the relief requested by the Investor.
I. CANADA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPA'S MEASURES
A. The FIT Program
141. In his September 24, 2009 direction, Energy Minister Smitherman directed the OPA to
"develop a feed‐in tariff program".182 The directions included provisions that covered
the setting of prices, and the length of contract term.183
142. The Minister specifically directed that:
"The FIT Program should provide for a 20‐year power purchase agreement in respect of all renewable fuels other than waterpower, and a 40‐year power purchase agreement in respect of waterpower projects."
"The OPA shall amend the FIT Program, including the pricing schedule, and its Support Programs at least once every two years and report to the Minister with results and suggestions for improvement."
"The OPA… not to enter into FIT contracts for energy generated by ground‐mounted solar photovoltaic generation facilities greater than 100kW where those facilities are located on prime agricultural land."184
182 The "feed‐in tariff program" is defined as a program for procurement, including a procurement process,
providing standard program rules, standard contracts and standard pricing regarding classes of generation facilities differentiated by energy source or fuel type, generator capacity and the manner by which the generation facility is used, deployed, installed or located.
183 Other provisions included the inclusion of aboriginal communities, restriction on contracts, and the establishment of community engagement programs.
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143. The FIT Program Rules were amended nine times between September 2009 and
December 2012.185 Amendments to the Support Programs were included in a number of
the Rule changes between 2009 and 2012.186 The price schedule was amended on April
5, 2012.187 In March 2012, a Two‐Year Program Review was presented by Fareed Amin,
Deputy Minister to the Minister of Energy.188 The Review had been conducted with the
support of the Ministry of Energy and the OPA and included information regarding the
progress of the Program, results of consultation with the renewable energy sector and
recommendations for improvement.
144. While the Minister's Direction empowered the OPA, it also limited the OPA in relation to
certain actions. For example, the OPA was not permitted to enter into FIT contracts for
solar photovoltaic generation facilities greater than 100kW when they were located on
prime agricultural land.189
145. In relation to the governance of the program, the Minister's Direction specifically
ordered the OPA to adopt the policies and procedures that are the subject of this
arbitration:
"OPA will establish appropriate policies and procedures with respect to the administration of the Programs…"190
184 Letter from George Smitherman (Minister of Energy and Infrastructure) to Colin Andersen (OPA), September 24,
2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0264) 185 FIT Rules Version 1.1 ‐ September 30, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258); Ontario Power
Authority, Feed‐In Tarriff Program, FIT Rules, Version 1.2, November 19, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0143); FIT Rules Version 1.3, March 9, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0185); FIT Rules Version 1.3.1, July 2, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0218); Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.3.2, October 29, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0242); FIT Rules Version 1.4, December 8, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0239); Ontario Power Authority, FIT Rules Version 1.5, June 3, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0005); FIT Rules Version 1.5.1, July 15, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0237); Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tarriff Program, FIT Rules, Version 2.0, August 10, 2012 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0058); FIT Rules Version 2.1, December 14, 2012 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0240)
186 For example, Version 1.3 of the FIT Rules, s. 9.1(g) amended the definition of Community Participation Project to read "Community Participation Project means either (i) a Project in respect of which the Applicant or the Supplier is a Community Investment Member or (ii) where the Applicant or Supplier is not itself a Community Investment Member, a Project that has a Community Participation Level greater than or equal to 10%." (underlined text added in new version). FIT Rules Version 1.3, March 9, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0185)
187 Ontario Power Authority, FIT Price Schedule Verison 2.0, April 5, 2012 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0056)
188 Ontario Government Press Release, "Moving Clean Energy Forward, Creating Jobs, McGuinty Government Takes Steps to Ensure Successful Renewable Energy Program", March 22, 2012 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0097)
189 Letter from George Smitherman (Minister of Energy and Infrastructure) to Colin Andersen (OPA), September 24, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0264)
190 Letter Letter from George Smitherman (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, September 24, 2009, at p. 7 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0051)
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i. Directions as to domestic content
146. The Electricity Act, 1998 also sets out that the Minister may issue a direction to the OPA
with regard to domestic content.191 The OPA was accordingly directed to require wind
and solar PV projects "contain a defined percentage of domestic content" and that "the
amount of domestic content will increase over time", such that for wind projects:
a) Developers who have a milestone date for commercial operation on or before Dec.
31, 2011 will have to meet a domestic content requirement of 25%.
b) Developers who have a milestone date for commercial operation on or after January
1, 2012 will have to meet a domestic content requirement of 50%.192
147. The FIT Program Rules 2.0 of December 14, 2012, amended these requirements, so that:
"for On‐Shore Wind Facilities, the Minimum Required Domestic Content Level is 50%."193
As the Mesa projects had not yet become operational, they were made subject to the
50% domestic content requirement.194
148. Other directions from the Minister of Energy to the OPA, specifically related to the FIT
Process, Domestic Content, Connection Point Changes, and the Korean Consortium, are
highlighted in the chart below:
191 The Electricity Act, 1998, s. 25.35(3) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401) 192 Letter from George Smitherman (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, September
24, 2009, at p. 3 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0051) 193 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tarriff Program, FIT Rules, Version 2.0, August 10, 2012, Section 8.4(a)(i)
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0058) 194 Their original COD was May 6, 2011, see OPA FIT Application for TTD, November 25, 2009, at p. 20 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0364) However, contracts were not awarded in time for this operational date to be achieved.
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a) FIT Process
Energy Ministerial Directions to the OPA
Date Key Directions
September 24, 2009
Energy Minister Smitherman directed the OPA to establish the FIT Program:
The FIT Program should provide for a 20‐year power purchase agreement in respect of all renewable fuels other than waterpower, and a 40‐year power purchase agreement in respect of waterpower projects.
The OPA shall amend the FIT Program, including the pricing schedule, and its Support Programs at least once every two years and report to the Minister with results and suggestions for improvement.
The OPA… not to enter into FIT contracts for energy generated by ground‐mounted solar photovoltaic generation facilities greater than 100kW where those facilities are located on" prime agricultural land
OPA will establish appropriate policies and procedures with respect to the administration of the Programs…195
February 17, 2011
Energy Minister Duguid directed the OPA to plan for 10,700 MW of renewable energy generating capacity, excluding hydroelectric, by 2018196
June 3, 2011
Energy Minister Duguid directed the OPA to offer FIT contracts for up to 750 MW in the Bruce Region and up to 300 MW in the West of London Region197
April 5, 2012
Energy Minister Bentley directed the OPA to award microFIT and Small FIT contracts, to reserve capacity for Aboriginal participation projects, and that the OPA "shall not run the Economic Connection Test."198
July 11, 2012
Energy Minister Bentley directed the OPA to modify the FIT Program to prioritize projects that had municipal support, and to not enter into contracts with projects whose connection point was more than 50 km from its project location.199
195 Letter from George Smitherman (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, September
24, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0051) 196 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, February
17, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0267) 197 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, June 3,
2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0046) 198 Letter from Chris Bentley (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, April 5, 2012
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0052) 199 Letter from Minister Bentley (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, July 11, 2012,
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0210)
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Energy Ministerial Directions to the OPA
Date Key Directions
June 12, 2013
Energy Minister Chiarelli directed the OPA to "not procure any additional MW under the FIT Program for Large FIT projects", to "begin to develop a competitive procurement process for large [projects]", and to revise the FIT program to "provide municipalities with incentives under the Program similar to incentives currently provided to communities".200
b) Domestic Content
Energy Ministerial Directions to the OPA
Date Key Directions
September 24, 2009
Energy Minister Smitherman directed the OPA that "the amount of domestic content will increase over time" such that "developers who have a milestone date for commercial operation on or after January 1, 2012 will have to meet a domestic content requirement of 50%."201
June 12, 2013
Energy Minister Chiarelli stated that:
"It is the Ministry's desire and intent" that the FIT program be "brought into compliance with [the WTO] rulings."
The Ministry intends to "pursue the necessary legislative steps and other steps" to bring the program into compliance
He intends "to issue further direction to the OPA at a later date with respect to
these domestic content requirements."202
c) Connection Point changes for NextEra
Energy Ministerial Directions to the OPA
Date Key Directions
June 3, 2011
Energy Minister Duguid directed the OPA, following the release of the Ontario Long‐Term Energy Plan, that:
"before determining the FIT contract offers, the OPA shall provide a five (5) business day window for proponents to change their connection points. This opportunity to change connection points will only be made available for FIT projects that are on the priority ranking list for the Bruce and West of London transmission areas and only where the proponent wishes to change their
connection point to a connection point in one of these two areas."203
200 Letter from Bob Chiarelli (Minister of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), June 12, 2013 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0248) 201 Letter from George Smitherman (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, September
24, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0051) 202 Letter from Bob Chiarelli (Minister of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), June 12, 2013 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0248) 203 Letter from Minister Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0046)
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Energy Ministerial Directions to the OPA
Date Key Directions
July 11, 2012
Energy Minister Bentley directed the OPA to "continue the FIT Program", subject to the following:
"the OPA shall revise the FIT Rules to provide for a limit for non‐hydroelectric projects with respect to the distance between a project's connection point on the existing transmission or distribution grid and the land within the project's location to which the applicant has access rights at the time of application. The OPA shall not enter into a FIT contract where the proposed project is located 50 km or more from its proposed connection point on the existing transmission or distribution grid
according to the measurement in the preceding paragraph."204
d) Korean Consortium's Better Treatment
Energy Ministerial Directions to the OPA
Date Key Directions
September 30, 2009
Energy Minister Smitherman directed the OPA to set aside transmission capacity for members of the Korean Consortium (without mentioning the members of the GEIA):
"in carrying out the Transmission Availability Test under the FIT Program Rules, to hold in reserve 240 MW of transmission capacity in Haldimand County and a total of 260 MW of transmission capacity in Essex County and the Municipality of Chatham‐Kent jointly for renewable energy generating facilities whose proponents
have signed a province‐wide framework agreement with the province."205
April 1, 2010
Energy Minister Duguid directed the OPA to negotiate:
one or more power purchase agreements as appropriate with respect to each Phase with the Korean Consortium or the appropriate Project Companies.
each power purchase agreement entered into shall be…substantially similar to those provided for under the OPA's FIT Contract and the FIT Program Rules
that the OPA shall…give priority to projects within the scope of this direction when assessing transmission availability with respect to the FIT Program
Energy Minister Duguid also establishes what became "working group meetings" between the Korean Consortium and the government and directed that an Implementation Task Force be established.
He "further directed to give priority to GEIA projects when assessing transmission availability…"206
204 Letter from Minister Bentley (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, July 11, 2012
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0210) 205 Letter from George Smitherman (Minister of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to OPA, September 30,
2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0105) 206 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to OPA, April 1, 2010
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0079)
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Energy Ministerial Directions to the OPA
Date Key Directions
September 17, 2010
Energy Minister Duguid directed the OPA to hold in reserve "500 MW of transmission capacity to be made available in the Bruce area…"207 in addition to the 250 MW and 260 MW already reserved for the Korean Consortium as of the September 30 direction.208
July 29, 2011
Energy Minister Duguid directed the OPA to:
enter into Power Purchase Agreements with the Korean Consortium or its Project
Companies for Phase 1 wind and solar projects in Haldimand County.209
ii. Direct Ministry of Environment Involvement & Influence Over the Process of the OPA
149. The Ministry of Energy's directions and continued involvement with the OPA with regard
to the implementation and administration of the FIT Program went beyond its mandate
to direct the OPA to develop the program. This is especially evident following the
execution of the GEIA where the Ministry of Energy can be seen to exert inappropriate
influence over the OPA with regard to the administration of the FIT Program and the
awarding of renewable energy contracts.
150. Rather than allow the OPA to develop and administer the FIT Program, the Ministry of
Energy was involved in many aspects of the program, including: scheduling of the
program launch,210 awarding of contracts211, and reviewing and editing OPA emails and
web postings.212
207 This 500 MW is in addition to the 510 MW that were already reserved in Haldimand county and Chatham‐Kent
municipality as of the September 30, 2009 direction. 208 Letter from Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, September 17,
2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0119) 209 Letter from Minister Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, July 29, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0252) Note that this direction also demonstrates specific examples of the Ontario government provided the KC with preferential treatment. For example, the KC would be permitted to "relocate their wind or solar projects for Phase 1" if it was unable to reach an agreement by July 31, 2012 with the Six Nations Elected Council. That is, the Ministry of Energy was "providing the Korean Consortium with an additional year to develop a mutually beneficial agreement with the Six Nations Elected Council." Such an extension, and the option to change project locations, was not available under the standard FIT contract.
210 Email from Shawn Cronwright (OPA), to Sue Low (Ministry of Energy), May 19, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0310) see also Internal Question and Answer document dated May 27, 2011 prepared by the OPA where it was explained that "the Ministry of Energy determined the length of the connection point window…". Ontario Power Authority, Internal Document, "Bruce to Milton Capacity Allocation, Internal Use Only, Questions and Answers", May 27, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0289)
211 Email from Sunita Chander (Ministry of Energy)to Shawn Cronwright (OPA), May 11, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0314)
212 Email from Kristin Jenkins (OPA) to Jim MacDougall (OPA) et al., June 2, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0290)
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151. The Ministry of Energy was heavily involved in developing the rule changes that the OPA
released on June 3, 2011. The Ministry of Energy participated in a large number of
meetings, calls and emails, etc. regarding the development of the FIT Program. Internal
MOE correspondence also suggests that discussions and decision making took place
without the involvement of the OPA. For example, in an email dated May 13, 2011
regarding the timeline for awarding contracts to projects in the Bruce region and
proposed plan to implement the program, Sunita Chander and Ceiran Bishop, both
employees of the Ministry of Energy, discussed issues surrounding the change window
and suggested that it would "be good to solicit OPA feedback."213
152. The disconnect between the Ministry of Energy and the OPA is especially evident when
the Ministry of Energy's correspondence is compared with an internal OPA email from
the previous day. On May 12, 2011 Bob Chow, Director, Transmission Integration Power
System Planning Division, wrote to JoAnne Butler, Shawn Cronkwright and Michael Lyle,
OPA, regarding revisions to the Bruce to Milton FIT process:
With respect to your questions concerning change of connection point, it will complicate the process [we will have to update the capability table (for Bruce/WOL area only or everywhere ... this we need to discuss}; provide a process to change the connection point in the application; re‐assess the new configurations (we have been rehearsing the past month on the non‐change point assumption); and hope there are no surprises and complications (eg. Somebody want to connect to the 500kV lines]. The cleaner TAT/DAT approach is the preferred option. We also believe that allowing a change of connection point coupled with proponent paid through connection upgrades will lead to more MW in the London area. But it is hard to know what that would be as we have no control or knowledge with how proponents would change their connection point (eg. Move their current constraint connection point to a main station bus). Generally, allowing more options will lead to less predictability, more complications and more work for us.214
153. The Ministry of Energy actions, as depicted above, appear to go beyond their mandate
as set out in the Electricity Act, to direct the OPA to "develop a feed‐in‐tariff
program".215 The OPA has commented that, "as Ontario's energy planner, it requires
some level of independence to allow it to objectively and proactively develop
alternative options and ideas instead of relying exclusively on ministerial directions."216
154. The Auditor General, in his 2011 Annual Report, observed that the regulatory and
oversight role of the Ontario Energy Board ("OEB") has been negatively impacted by the
actions of the Ministry of Energy. Specifically, the Auditor General noted "[t]he
213 Email from Ceiran Bishop (Ministry of Energy), to Sunita Chander (Ministry of Energy), May 13, 2011, (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0312) 214 Email from Bob Chow (OPA), to JoAnne Butler (OPA), May 12, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0307) 215 Electricity Act, 1998, S.O. 1998, c.15 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401) 216 2011 Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario, Chapter 3, VFM Section 3.03 Electricity Sector‐
Renewable Energy Initiatives, at p. 101 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228)
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ministerial direction‐making authority has limited the OEB's ability to carry out its
regulatory oversight role on behalf of consumers with respect to renewable energy."217
II. POWER AND ELECTRICITY IN ONTARIO
155. Power in the Province of Ontario goes through three primary phases: electricity
generation, electricity transmission, and the final stage of commercial sale to retail
consumers. The entire process is regulated by the provincial government, provincial
agencies, and legislation. Responsibility for generating, transmitting, and distributing
electricity is shared between public and private actors.
156. In the past decade, Ontario has made a concerted effort to treat electricity as a
competitive commodity and open the province's electricity market, whereby private
actors are invited to compete for a share in Ontario's market so that they may generate,
transmit, or distribute electricity at a profit.
157. Ontario's power supply is overseen by the Ontario Power Authority. The OPA was
created in 2004 as part of a provincial restructuring, brought about by the Electricity
Restructuring Act, 2004.218 The Electricity Restructuring Act, 2004 created the Ontario
Power Authority to be "an ‘agency' of the Government of Ontario responsible for
managing Ontario's electricity supply and resources in order to meet its medium and
long‐term needs".219 The Ministry of Energy has "legislative responsibility" for the
Ontario Power Authority and the Minister of Energy is empowered to issue directives,
and directions, which the OPA must receive and execute220. Ontario's own Auditor
General found that the OPA "directed their energies to implementing the Minister's
requested actions as quickly as possible".221
158. Ontario Power Authority supply contracts guarantee prices for long‐term periods,
usually 20 years.222 The OPA secures present and future electricity in various forms –
nuclear, gas, hydro, wind, solar, and biotech, through its contracts.223 Since June 2006 it
217 2011 Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario, Chapter 3, VFM Section 3.03 Electricity Sector‐
Renewable Energy Initiatives, at p. 101 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228) 218 Electricity Restructuring Act, 2004, S.O. 2004, c. 23 ‐ Bill 100, assented to December 9, 2004, Section 25.1(1)
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0144) 219 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.37 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 220 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.37 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 221 2011 Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario, Chapter 3, VFM Section 3.03 Electricity Sector‐
Renewable Energy Initiatives, at p. 89 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228) 222 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.38 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001)
quoting, IESO Market Manual Part 5.5: Physical Markets Settlement Statements, Issue 44.0, 12 October 2011, Sections 1.6.7 and 1.6.11.
223 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report,para. 7.38 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) quoting IESO Guide to Electricity Charges, Exhibit JPN‐1.
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has implemented directions from the Minister of Energy to increase Ontario's
renewable energy capacity.224
159. The Ontario Energy Board is another "agency" of the Ontario government, which
regulates the province's electricity and natural gas sectors in the public interest.225 The
Ontario Energy Board sets the rates for the transmission and distribution of electricity,
as well as licensing to all market participants and the rates paid by retail consumers for
electricity.226 The Ontario Energy Board was created by the Ontario Energy Board Act,
1998.
160. The current electricity distribution system in Ontario dates back to 1906 with the
creation of the Hydro‐Electric Power Commission of Ontario, billed by the Government
of Ontario as "the world's first publicly owned electric utility."227 In 1974, Hydro‐Electric
Power Commission of Ontario became Ontario Hydro, a crown corporation that
dominated electricity in the province until 1998.
161. In 1998 Ontario passed the Energy Competition Act, 1998 that enacted the Electricity
Act. The effect was to open up Ontario's electricity market. Ontario Hydro was split
between the following five entities:
a) Independent Market Operator: The Independent Market Operator is responsible for
administering the wholesale electricity market in Ontario and, through the
transmission system, directing the flow of energy from producers to consumers.
b) Ontario Power Generation: Ontario Power Generation inherited the assets of
Ontario Hydro, which amounted to about 90% of the province's electricity capacity.
c) Hydro One Inc.: Hydro One became responsible for transmission network and rural
distribution businesses.
d) Ontario Electricity Financial Corporation: The Ontario Electricity Financial
Corporation assumed other Ontario Hydro assets, including its contracts with Non‐
Utility Generators (Non‐Utility Generators are private generators that had entered
into contracts with Ontario Hydro in the 1980s and 1990s and produce
approximately 2% of Ontario's power) and CAD $20 billion in stranded debt.
224 2011 Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario, Chapter 3, VFM Section 3.03 Electricity Sector‐
Renewable Energy Initiatives, at p. 97 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228) 225 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.42 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001),
quoting Government of Ontario: All Agencies List; and Agency Details, Ontario Energy Board, Government of Ontario website
226 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.42 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001), quoting Ontario Energy Board Act of 1998, S.O. 1998, Chapter 15, Schedule B, as amended.
227 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.21 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001)
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e) Electrical Safety Authority: The Electrical Safety Authority was responsible for the
safety of Ontario's electricity system.228
162. Power generation in Ontario was restructured in order to open Ontario's power market
and hope that new investment in power generation would follow the May 2002 opening
of Ontario's power market. However, investment failed to materialize and high energy
prices caused by a hot summer in 2002 caused the Ontario government to step in and
freeze electricity prices.229
163. The 2004 restructuring, and the creation of the Ontario Power Authority, was a direct
result of the problematic restructuring in 2002. This restructuring has been explained as
being to:
…restructure Ontario's electricity sector, to promote the expansion of electricity supply and capacity, including supply and capacity from alternative and renewable energy sources, facilitate load management and electricity demand management, encourage electricity conservation and the efficient use of electricity and to regulate prices in par of the electricity sector"230
164. The result of the 2004 restructuring has been the creation of "hybrid" system, where the
government and private entities jointly participate in the generation, transmission,
distribution, and retail activities.231
165. To the extent that the actions and omissions of the Ontario Energy Board, Hydro One
and the IESO have not been under the direction of the Minister, Canada remains
responsible for those breaches pursuant to NAFTA Article 1503.232
III. POWER GENERATION
166. The WTO panel in Canada‐Renewable Energy summarized the electrical generation
capacity in Ontario as follows:
As of year‐end 2010, there were approximately 34,700 MW of installed generation capacity in Ontario. This capacity can be roughly separated into three groups of generators: (i) the government‐owned assets of OPG, which as already mentioned are the former generation assets of Ontario Hydro; (ii) NUGs, which are private generators that entered into supply contracts with Ontario Hydro in the 1980s and 1990s; and (iii) Independent Power Producers ("IPPs"), which comprise all the other generators in Ontario that have started to operate since the wholesale market was restructured. The IPPs include generators operating under the FIT Programme.233
228 Electricity Act, 1998, S.O. 1998, c.15Part VIII (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401) 229 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.23 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 230 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.24 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 231 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.25) (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 232 The Investor reserves its right to make this argument pending determinations stemming from further document
production in this matter by the OPA in January 2014. 233 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.26 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001)
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167. The WTO panel identified that 58% of the electricity generation market in Ontario was
supplied by publicly‐own utilities. The remaining 42% came from private market
electricity generators. The panel summarized the market as follows:
The remaining generators operating in Ontario account for 42% of electricity supply. Of these, the IPPs, which generate around 40% of Ontario's electricity supply, receive prices that are negotiated or set under different types of OPA initiatives and contracts including: the Clean Energy Supply ("CES") contracts for natural gas; the Renewable Energy Supply ("RES") Requests for Proposals I, II and III; the Hydroelectric Contract Initiative ("HCI") for grid‐connected non‐OPG‐owned hydro facilities; the Combined Heat and Power ("CHP") Requests for Proposals I, II, III; the Renewable Energy Standard Offer Programme ("RESOP"); and the FIT Programme. 234
168. The WTO panel identified the process under which private companies had previously bid
for the renewable energy power purchase agreements with Ontario. The panel stated:
Under the CES and RES initiatives, the OPA awarded supply contracts through a competitive bidding process which set prices for delivered electricity at the levels of the lowest bids meeting the specified conditions. Prices paid to generators operating under the HCI and CHP initiatives were negotiated with the OPA and, according to Canada, generally guided by the rates paid under competitive contracts determined through a request for proposal. Under the RESOP, the prices paid to solar PV generators are based primarily on the principle of cost recovery. For non‐solar RESOP generators, prices are based on those applied under the RES initiative. As regards the FIT Programme, the price received by qualified generators is guided by the principle of cost recovery and margin. The after tax rate of return on equity used to develop the FIT Price Schedule in 2009 was 11%.235
169. Power generation in Ontario is presently divided into three production groups:
a) Ontario Power Generation: Ontario Power Generation produces approximately 58%
of Ontario's power through assets it inherited from Ontario Hydro;
b) Non‐Utility Generators
c) Independent Power Producers: Independent Power Producers are all the other
generators that began operating since the market was restructured and collectively
produce about 40% of Ontario's power.
170. Independent Power Producers receive different electricity pricing from the Ontario
Power Authority than does the OPG and it varies according to the type of electricity and
how it is governed. For example, natural gas contracts are regulated by the Clean Energy
Supply, and the Hydroelectric Contract Initiative governs grid‐connected non‐Ontario
Power Generation‐owned hydro facilities.236 Contracts under these various initiatives
can be awarded through competitive bidding.237
234 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.28 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 235 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.29 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 236 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.28 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 237 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.29) (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001)
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IV. POWER TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION AND COMMERCIAL SALE
171. The WTO panel summarized the process for electricity transmission and commercial sale
of power in Ontario as follows:
... In Ontario, high‐voltage transmission lines carry electricity at voltages above 50 kilovolts ("kV") and are used to move electricity over long distances from generating stations to load or population centres to reduce power losses. Once the electricity nears a distribution hub, voltage is reduced at a transformer station and carried to customers over distribution lines at voltages 50 kV and under.
Generators typically connect to the transmission system or to the distribution system based on their capacity. In particular, generators with capacity greater than 10 MW (including large‐capacity FIT generators) typically connect to the transmission system, and generators with capacity of 10 MW or less (including small‐capacity FIT and microFIT generators) typically connect to the distribution system. Generators that connect to the transmission system must deliver electricity at voltages above 50 kV, while generators connected to the distribution system must deliver electricity at voltages of 50 kV or less.
Transmission‐connected generators register with the IESO, and connect to the high‐voltage transmission system, which is almost completely owned and operated by Hydro One. 238
172. Ontario industrial and residential consumers obtain their electrical power at commercial
rates from the Ontario transmission grid through these distribution companies which
are all connected through the transmission grid owned and run by Hydro One.
173. Ontario's power transmission is via a system of high‐voltage transmission lines from
generating stations to lower‐voltage distribution lines. The high‐voltage transmission
lines carry electricity at a voltage over 50 kilovolts (kV). Lower voltage distribution lines
carry electricity under 50 kV after its voltage is reduced at transformer stations located
near to distribution hubs.
174. The WTO panel reported on the prevalence of local distribution companies (LDCs) in
delivering power to retail customers. The panel found that "In 2010, there were 77
private‐sector electricity retailers in Ontario that sold "contracts to businesses and
consumers". There are currently 45 licensed electricity retailers that compete with LDCs
in their respective service areas." 239
175. Canada admitted at the WTO that electricity purchased under the FIT Program is
injected into Ontario's electricity grid, where it is pooled with electricity from other
sources240.
238 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at paras. 7.32 – 7.35 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at
CL‐001) 239 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.57 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 240 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.148 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001),
referring to Canada's opening statement at the first meeting of the Panel, at para. 56; response to Panel question No. 25(a) (first set); second written submission, at para. 68; and opening statement at the second meeting of the Panel, at para. 47
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176. Hydro One owns, through the subsidiary Hydro One Networks, 97% of the provincial
transmission system with the remaining 3% is owned by four private companies.241
177. Hydro One also owns and operates approximately 25% of the province's distribution‐
connected generators through its system of local distribution companies.242 Electricity is
sold on commercial terms and the distribution companies make a profit. This power is
then provided by way of commercial sale to retail consumers and industrial consumers
in Ontario.
V. THE FEED‐IN‐TARIFF PROGRAM
178. As part of Ontario's efforts to open up the electricity sector to increased competition
between private entities, it passed the Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009 in
March, 2009.243 This act created a new landscape for renewable energy use in Ontario
and led to changes in the way policy and programs were created and implemented.
179. The 2011 Ontario Auditor General Report noted that the Green Energy and Green
Economy Act, 2009 removed a layer of bureaucratic and regulatory control because it
"delegated a certain part of the responsibility for dramatically increasing the province's
renewable energy supply directly to the Minister of Energy."244 It continued and pointed
out that the Act provided "the Minister with the authority to supersede [through the
issuance of directives and directions] many of the government's usual planning and
regulatory oversight processes."245 The Auditor General has reported that reliance on
Ministerial directives and directions "has created some ambiguity regarding the original
mandates of the OPA and the OEB from the planning and oversight perspective."246 The
Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009 permits directions to be issued without
Cabinet approval, which was restricted to a degree before the Act.247
180. Under the auspices of the Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009, Ontario began
the FIT Program, the purpose of which was to facilitate the generation, transmission,
and distribution of renewable energy throughout the province by private companies.
The program permitted different companies to compete for contracts to generate
energy from renewable sources into Ontario's transmission network to be distributed to
241 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.34 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 242 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.35 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 243 Green Energy Act, 2009, SO 2009, c.12, Sched. A (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0003) 244 2011 Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario, Chapter 3, VFM Section 3.03 Electricity Sector‐
Renewable Energy Initiatives, at pp. 88‐89 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228) 245 2011 Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario, Chapter 3, VFM Section 3.03 Electricity Sector‐
Renewable Energy Initiatives, at p. 89 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228) 246 2011 Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario, Chapter 3, VFM Section 3.03 Electricity Sector‐
Renewable Energy Initiatives, at p. 100 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228) 247 Green Energy Act, 2009, SO 2009, c.12, Sched. A (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0003)
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customers. Due to the fixed capacity of the transmission network, the generation
capacity of renewable energy available under the FIT Program was limited. Contracts
awarded under the FIT Program provided for a fixed‐rate for a long‐term supply of
renewable energy. Contract types varied by type of energy being generated, such as
solar or wind energy.
181. Notwithstanding the fact that the FIT Program found its roots in legislation, its creation
and implementation was, to a degree, unstructured. The Auditor General's report
states, "The OPA, the OEB, and the IESO acknowledged that: no independent, objective,
expert investigation had been done to examine the potential effects of renewable‐
energy policies on prices..."248 It continued, "The OPA informed us that it designed the
FIT program at a time when no long‐term energy plan was in place and it was unsure
about the quantities of power the FIT program was intended to procure."249 The Ministry
of Energy also did not estimate "potential job losses and the cost per renewable‐energy‐
related job in Ontario."250
182. The FIT Program was launched on September 24, 2009 after completion of a public
comment period on draft program rules. Upon the program launch, Version 1.0 of the
FIT Rules was released, as well as a standard form contract and definitions. There were
two components to the FIT Program: the Micro FIT program, which applies to renewable
energy projects that are 10 kW or less, and the FIT Program which applies to projects
over 10 kW.
183. The WTO Appellate Body summarized findings from the panel report and described the
FIT Program in general as follows in its Report:
1.3. The FIT Programme is a scheme implemented by the Government of the Province of Ontario and its agencies in 2009, through which generators of electricity produced from certain forms of renewable energy are paid a guaranteed price per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity delivered into the Ontario electricity system under 20‐year or 40‐year contracts. Participation in the FIT Programme is open to facilities located in Ontario that generate electricity exclusively from one or more of the following sources of renewable energy: wind, solar PV, renewable biomass, biogas, landfill gas, and waterpower. It is administered by the OPA and implemented through the application of a standard set of rules, standard contracts, and, for each class of generation technology, standard pricing. The FIT Programme is divided into two streams: (i) the FIT stream– for projects with a capacity to produce electricity that exceeds 10 kilowatts (kW), but is no more than 10 megawatts (MW) for solar PV projects or 50 MW in the case of waterpower projects; and (ii) the microFIT stream – for projects having a capacity to produce up to 10 kW of electricity. The microFIT stream is intended to provide
248 2011 Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario, Chapter 3, VFM Section 3.03 Electricity Sector‐
Renewable Energy Initiatives, at p. 97 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228) 249 2011 Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario, Chapter 3, VFM Section 3.03 Electricity Sector‐
Renewable Energy Initiatives, at pp. 106‐107 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228) 250 2011 Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario, Chapter 3, VFM Section 3.03 Electricity Sector‐
Renewable Energy Initiatives, at p. 118 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228)
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"'a simplified approach for enabling the development of renewable micro‐generation projects in Ontario', with a view to attracting participants such as homeowners, farmers and small businesses". Only projects that satisfy all of the specific eligibility requirements, and that can be connected to the Ontario electricity system, will be offered a FIT or microFIT Contract by the OPA, and thereby permitted to participate in the FIT Programme. 251
VI. PARTICIPATION IN THE FIT PROGRAM: THE PROCESS FOR OBTAINING A CONTRACT
184. Due to finite transmission capacity in Ontario, not all projects that submitted
applications were able to receive contracts. The FIT Rules set out a methodology for
scoring and ranking projects as the means to determine which applications would
receive contracts. This allocation process is sometimes referred to as "capacity
allocation."
185. The first FIT applications were accepted during the "launch period" from October to
November, 2012.252 Applications submitted during that time were required to provide
detailed information and were scored on four criteria:253
a) Whether the project is exempt from the Renewable Energy Approval (REA)
Process;254
b) Guaranteed access to wind turbine supply. Applicants had to show that they owned
or were executing a contract with an equipment supplier to supply a certain type of
equipment needed to generate the electricity. The required equipment was referred
to as a "Major Equipment Component," which was further regulated in the FIT
Rules;255
c) Expertise in wind power development. The FIT Rules required applicants to have
"three full‐time employees with successful experience with planning and developing
one or more similar facilities"; and
d) Financial Capacity. This was described in the FIT Rules as requiring that "any one
person or one group of person must account for 15% or more of the direct or
indirect economic interest in the applicant and has an individual tangible net worth
251 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ AB Report, at paras. 1.3, 1.4 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐002) 252 Section 13 ("Program Launch") of the FIT Rules version 1.1 sets out the information relevant to applications
submitted during that time frame. Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258)
253 These four criteria are set out at Section 13.4(a) of FIT Rules Version 1.1 ‐ September 30, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258)
254 The REA is the Ontario Ministry of Environment regulatory oversight and approval process for renewable energy projects. FIT Standard Definitions, version 1.0, at p. 17 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0416)
255 The Domestic Content Grid is listed under Exhibit D of the FIT Rules version 1.1, September 30, 2009 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258)
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or collective tangible net worth of $500 or more per kW of proposed contract
capacity at the end of the most recent fiscal year."
186. For each of those four criteria, a launch period applicant should have been awarded one
point, for a maximum possible "criteria score" of four points. Applicants were required
to include supporting evidence in order to obtain these points.
187. In addition to the four criteria, the FIT Rules set out a number of steps for ranking
launch period applications:
a) First, projects were ranked based upon the number of days that they are willing to
reduce the time between the Contract Date and the Milestone Date for Commercial
Operation (defined in the rules as "COD Acceleration Days"). The COD Acceleration
Days are subject to a minimum of zero days and a maximum of 365 calendar days.256
b) Where two or more launch applications propose the same number of COD
Acceleration Days, projects were ranked on the Criteria Score set out above. The
Criteria Score was calculated by adding the COD Acceleration Days plus 90 calendar
days for each point awarded to the project under the four criteria.257
c) The evidence of access rights date is used to break a tie between projects with the
same COD Acceleration Days and with the same criteria score. Where two or more
launch applications propose the same number of COD Acceleration Days and have
the same criteria score, these launch applications will be assigned a time stamp in
priority of applicants with the earliest Access Rights Date.258
d) In the event that two or more launch applications propose the same number of COD
Acceleration Days, have the same criteria score, and have the same Access Rights
Date, the time stamp is assigned in relative priority to one another by random
draw.259
188. Projects received two different rankings, one that was province‐wide and a regional one
based on regions drawn up by the OPA.260
256 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009, Section 134(b)(ii),
at para. 13.4 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258) 257 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009, Section 134(b)(ii),
at para. 13.4 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258) 258 The FIT Rules define Access Rights Dates as the date that access rights were first acquired by the applicant or
the rights to the location were first acquired by the applicant. Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009, Section 134(b)(ii) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258)
259 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009, Section 134(b)(ii), at para. 13.4 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258)
260 Ontario Power Authority, Priority ranking for First Round FIT Contracts, December 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0073)
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189. After rankings were complete, launch applications were assigned time stamps that were
earlier than time stamps for applications received after the launch period.261
Applications submitted after the launch period were ranked in the order that
applications were received.262
A. Domestic Content Requirements
190. A key requirement of the FIT Program is the local content requirements, which stemmed
from a September 24, 2009 direction from the Minister of Energy to the OPA. The
direction required FIT projects to use a certain qualifying percentage of goods produced
in Ontario in the generation of their electricity. The percentage of locally‐sourced
content varied with the type of project and the commercial operation date of the
project. For projects that became operational after January 1, 2012, the given level of
required domestic content was 50%.263 To verify this requirement, an interested
applicant had to complete the Domestic Content Report package within 60 days of
reaching Commercial Operation pursuant to the requirements of the FIT PPA Contract.264
B. The TAT
191. A further step applications had to undergo before contracts were awarded was a
Transmission Availability Test (TAT). This was the initial tool used by the OPA to
determine whether there was sufficient transmission capacity available for any given
project.265 TATs were automatically performed by the OPA for all applicants that
261 FIT Rules version 1.5, June 3, 2011, at para. 13.5 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0005) 262 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009, Section 134(b)(ii),
at para. 13.5 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258) 263 Ontario Power Authority, FIT Rules Version 1.5, June 3, 2011, at para. 6.4(a)(i) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits
at C‐0005) 264 Feed‐in Tariff Program, FIT Contract Version 1.5, June 3, 2011, Ontario Power Authority, at paras. 2.11(c). All of
the prescribed forms necessary for the submission of a complete Domestic Content Report are available online (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0263)
265 The Transmission Availability Test (TAT) is described in the FIT Rules Version 1.1 – September 30, 2009, Section 5.2(a). The TAT is a test to "determine whether the Transmission System has sufficient connection resources to accommodate the connection of the project, taking into consideration Planned In‐Service Transmission Developments; all prior Applications that have been processed; Applications in the FIT Production Line and FIT reserve with an earlier Times Stamp; and any other generating facilities that are existing, committed or are the subject of a ministerial direction." A Transmission System is a system for conveying electricity of more than 50 kilovolts and includes any structures, equipment or other things used for that purpose. Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009, Section 5.2 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258)
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identified a connection point.266 A project that passed its TAT and was ranked such that
it was in line for a FIT contract received one.
C. The ECT
192. Projects that failed their TAT were still competitive for FIT contracts, subject to a further
Economic Connection Test (ECT). The purpose of the ECT was to determine whether or
not the required upgrades to Ontario's transmission system necessary to accommodate
such a project were worthwhile and viable.267 However, the ECT process was abandoned
without notice and was not available to proponents that did not pass the TAT.
193. The first FIT PPA Contracts were awarded on April 8, 2010. Successful applicants
received a Power Purchase Agreement from the OPA that guaranteed a set purchase
price over a twenty year period.268 This guaranteed purchase price was based on 13.5
cents per kilowatt hour plus escalators.269
VII. FACTS IN THE PRESENT DISPUTE
194. In order to transmit and sell wind generated power on the Ontario grid, Mesa needed a
Power Purchase Agreement with the OPA. Mesa applied for Power Purchase
Agreements for four Ontario‐based wind projects – Arran, TTD, Summerhill and North
Bruce – all of which were are located in the Bruce Region.
195. In order to facilitate the transmission of power in the Bruce Region under the FIT
program, a Bruce to Milton Transmission project was planned. This project consisted of
a 500kV transmission line that was designed to increase the transmission capacity
266 In addition to the TAT, some projects also have to go through the "DAT" or Distribution Availability Test. Only
those projects that will connect to the "distribution lines" – these are lower voltage lines that are connected to the higher voltage "transmission lines". The DAT is a process to screen applications for their impact on the relevant Distribution System, where a Distribution System is a system connected to the IESO‐Controlled Grid (the Transmission System), used for distributing electricity at voltages of 50 kilovolts or less, and includes any structures, equipment or other things used for that purpose. Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009, Section 5.3 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258); Mesa's projects would not have had to undergo the DAT because the projects were to connect to transmission lines, and not to distribution lines.
267 Ontario Power Authority presentation, "The Economic Connection Test ‐ Approach, Metrics and Process", May 19, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0088)
268 Feed‐ Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, Program Overview, August, 2010,Section 6.4 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0141)
269 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, Program Overview, August, 2010, at p. 13 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0141) Escalators are economic incentives provided for in the FIT Program, Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, Program Overview, August, 2010, Section 1(d) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0141)
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available in the Bruce area in order to enable increased renewable energy production.270
Through the FIT Program, the OPA planned to offer 1,200 MW of renewable energy
contracts within this region.271
196. On December 21, 2010, the OPA issued its first‐round priority ranking, and indicated
that priority ranking was based on the acceleration – shovel readiness criteria.272
197. As such, TTD and Arran expected to get contracts if at least 663 MW became available in
the Bruce Region. Mesa had amongst the highest number of points in the region of
project proponents but despite this, it was ranked 8th and 9th in the Bruce Region:273
198. Mesa had calculated they would receive out of a possible 725 points available.274
When they received their ranking, they were ranked far below their calculated position.
Mesa's projects TTD and Arran were ranked 8th and 9th in the Bruce region, and 91st and
96th in the province, respectively.
199. When Mesa received its ranking on December 21, 2010, it was unclear why the ranking
received was different from the ranking it expected. As such, on May 20, 2011, the
Investor wrote to the OPA to verify that the OPA had correctly calculated their priority
270 Ontario Power Authority, Allocating Capacity and Offering FIT Contracts for Bruce to Milton Enabled Projects,
June 3, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0140) 271 Ontario Power Authority, Priority ranking for First Round FIT Contracts, December 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule
of Exhibits at C‐0073) 272 Feed‐in Tariff Program, Program Update, Priority ranking for First Round FIT Contracts, December 21, 2010
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0405) 273 Ontario Power Authority, Priority ranking for First Round FIT Contracts, December 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule
of Exhibits at C‐0073) 274 Letter from Mark Ward (Mesa), Chuck Edey (Leader Resources) and Michael Bernstein (Capstone Infrastructure)
to Shawn Cronkwright (OPA), May 20, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0098)
Bruce Region Priority Ranking ‐ December 21, 2010
Rank Applicant Name Capacity (MW)
1 Boulevard Associates Canada, Inc. 102
2 Boulevard Associates Canada, Inc. 23
3 Grand Bend Wind, L.P. 100
4 Grand Valley Wind Farms Inc. 40
5 St. Columban Energy L.P. 15
6 Skyway 127 Wind Energy Inc. 100
7 St. Columban Energy L.P. 18
8 TTD Wind Project ULC 150
9 Arran Wind Project ULC 115
Total 663
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rank and asked for more information about the method used for ranking to ensure that
there were no errors or oversights in the ranking process.275
200. When the OPA responded on June 17, 2011, it did not provide any substantive
explanation or disclose the ranking methodology. The OPA limited its response to state
that they had verified the ranking and that the Investor's Arran and TTD projects were
ranked correctly. 276 The OPA did not provide the supporting calculations requested by
the Investor so that it could itself verify the ranking, claiming they were confidential.277
A. Changes to the FIT Program Rules & Connection Point Changes
201. On June 3, 2011, without any prior notice, the Ontario Minister of Energy directed the
OPA to issue a new set of rules for awarding FIT Program contracts.278 The same day, the
OPA issued a version of the FIT Rules based on that direction279 which incorporated the
following fundamental changes to the FIT Program:
a) The Ontario Power Authority was directed to award 750 MW of FIT Program
contracts in the Bruce Region transmission zone, and 300 MW in the West of London
Region transmission zone280 compared to the old amounts of 1200 MW for the two
regions combined;
b) Each project was now to be provided the opportunity to change its interconnect
point during a five‐day period commencing Monday, June 6, 2011;281
c) Projects in the Bruce or West of London Regions could change and select an
interconnect point outside their own region, and could build long transmission lines
outside of their own regions and into neighbouring regions to facilitate the
connection.282
275 Letter from Mark Ward (Mesa), Chuck Edey (Leader Resources) and Michael Bernstein (Capstone Infrastructure)
to Shawn Cronkwright (OPA), May 20, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0098) 276 Letter from Shawn Cronkwright (OPA) to Mark Ward (Mesa), Chuck Edey (Leader Resources Corp.) and Michael
Bernstein (Capstone Infrastructure Corp.), June 17, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0154) 277 Letter from Shawn Cronkwright (OPA) to Mark Ward (Mesa), Chuck Edey (Leader Resources Corp.) and Michael
Bernstein (Capstone Infrastructure Corp.), June 17, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0154) 278 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to OPA, June 3, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0077) 279 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to OPA, June 3, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0077) 280 Ontario Power Authority, FIT Rules Version 1.5, June 3, 2011, at para. 5.4.1(c)(iv) (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0005) 281 Ontario Power Authority, News Release, "Allocating Capacity and Offering FIT Contracts for Bruce to Milton
Enabled Projects", June 3, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0078) 282 (Investor's Schedule
of Exhibits at C‐0207) [Restricted]
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202. Section 5 of the FIT Rules, titled "Connection Availability Management" sets out the
process for how the OPA would determine which applicants would be offered
contracts.283 Prior to June 3, 2011, the rules provided that an applicant in any region of
the province would first go through a Transmission Availability Test to determine
whether there was sufficient transmission capacity at the project's selected connection
point. Those projects that were successful would be offered contracts;284 those projects
that were not successful in the Transmission Availability Test would proceed to the
Economic Connection Test.285
203. The June 3, 2011 rule change added a completely separate and unprecedented section
to the Rules which provided a new process for the OPA to award FIT contracts.286 This
new section of the Rules titled "Newly Enabled Bruce‐to‐Milton Transmission Capacity"
created a process that was only available for projects in the Bruce Region and the West
of London Region. Mesa Power and other FIT proponents were awaiting an ECT and had
been repeatedly informed by the OPA that the next step in the FIT application process
was an ECT.287 Instead, the change to the FIT Rules created a new process that was not
consistent with proponents' expectations.
204. The most significant impact of these rule changes was that rankings in the Bruce Region
were affected by proponents from the West of London Region, through building new
and long transmission lines who were able to connect in Bruce and displace those
projects originally placed in Bruce that had proceeded on the assumption that they were
competing against those projects in their specific region. In such a situation Mesa was
confident of its position as both the Arran and TTD projects were within the top 750
MW of transmission in the Bruce Region. When this assumption was undone, when the
new rules were announced on June 3, 2011, proponents in Mesa's position were given
five days, between June 6th and 10th, to reformulate their original and long‐standing
strategies.
205. Transmission Capacity was more restricted in West of London, compared to Bruce. As
such, as soon as the window opened, projects flooded in from West of London. It had
283 FIT Rules, Version 1.1, September 30, 2009, Section 5 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258) 284 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009 Section 5.2(c)
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258) 285 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009, Section 5.2(b)
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258) 286 Ontario Power Authority, FIT Rules Version 1.5, June 3, 2011, Section 5.4 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0005) 287 Letter from JoAnne Butler, OPA, to Charles Edey, April 8, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0182);
Ontario Power Authority, Priority ranking for First Round FIT Contracts, December 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0073); Ontario Power Authority presentation, "The Economic Connection Test ‐ Approach, Metrics and Process", May 19, 2010, Page 39 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0088)
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the effect of operating one‐way and clearly benefitted proponents in the West of
London region. The following diagram is illustrative of this point.
Figure 1: Diagram of MWs Offered in Bruce Region and in West of London Region288
206. Following the connection point change window, PPAs were offered to proponents on
July 4, 2011, including new entrants, in the Bruce region. Had these new entrants not
been admitted, the Investor's projects in that region would have been granted a PPA.
207. A total of 14 PPAs were offered in the Bruce Region on July 4, 2011 totalling 750 MW.289
Figure 2 shows the names of those wind projects that received contracts offers on July
4, 2011 in the Bruce Region.290 Of the contracts offered, five of the projects were
originally ranked in the West of London Region and requested to the change to
connection points in the Bruce Region. In total, 443.5 MW of the 750 MW awarded on
July 4 were projects that had moved from the West of London Region to the Bruce
Region. The projects in bold, italic red font are those that moved into the Bruce Region
from the West of London Region. Four of those five contracts were owned by Boulevard
– a subsidiary of NextEra.
208. On July 4, 2011 the OPA published updated priority rankings for the Bruce Region. These
rankings were updated to reflect the fact that a number of the projects previously
288 Ontario's FIT Program and Grid Expansion, May 6, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0209) 289 FIT Contract Offers for the Bruce – Milton Capacity Allocation process, July 4, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0292) 290 FIT Contract Offers for the Bruce – Milton Capacity Allocation process, July 4, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0292)
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ranked in the Bruce Region had been awarded, and also to reflect that certain projects
that had previously requested to connect in the West of London region were now
located in the Bruce Region.
209. Figure 2 also contains the project rankings for the June 3, 2011 announcement in
addition to the contract awards and priority rankings in the Bruce Region of July 4th.291 In
this updated ranking, Mesa's projects, TTD and Arran were ranked 3rd and 4th and were
within the top 415MW in the Bruce Region, even after the rule change that permitted
projects to move into the Bruce Region. Had West of London projects not been
permitted to change their connection points and enter into the Bruce region, there
would have been sufficient capacity for Mesa's TTD and Arran projects to receive
contracts:
Figure 2: Effect of the June 3, 2011 Rule Change292
B. Revisions to REA Process
210. After the first FIT PPA contracts were awarded, the FIT Program underwent
unannounced changes. In August 2011, various Ontario ministries published revised
guidelines as related to the REA process. These recent changes make the REA process
significantly easier for proponents, ensuring their ability to move quickly and demand
less stringent development requirements on potential projects.
291FIT Contract Offers for the Bruce – Milton Capacity Allocation process, July 4, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0292); FIT Priority Ranking by Region, July 4, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0293) 292 FIT Contract Offers for the Bruce – Milton Capacity Allocation process, July 4, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0292)
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211. These changes allowed proponents with FIT PPA contracts to avoid certain development
work. However, at the same time, and on the basis of a reasonable expectation that it
would be awarded a FIT PPA Contract, Mesa Power aggressively developed its projects
as they would need to be operational by 2013. In contrast, those proponents that were
awarded with FIT PPA Contracts faced a short timeline to develop their projects and
have asked for a relaxation of the original rules for permitting.
C. Waiver of Termination Rights
212. Another major change was announced by the OPA on August 2, 2011 the after receiving
a direction from the Ministry of Energy, that it would modify the termination provisions
of the FIT Program to ensure that any PPA awarded could not be terminated under the
existing four‐month termination provisions in the FIT Program.293
213. The pre‐existing section 2.4(a) of the FIT PPA Contract provided that the OPA could
terminate the FIT PPA Contract prior to the OPA's issuance of a Notice to Proceed (NTP)
before the FIT Proponent had paid its security deposit.294 The August 2, 2011 direction
did away with that requirement. Proponents that were able to demonstrate a
completed Domestic Content Plan and a manufacturing equipment agreement by
December 21, 2011, could request a waiver of the OPA's termination rights.
214. On August 5, 2011, the OPA further notified proponents that if a proponent was to
submit an accurate and complete waiver on or before August 15, 2011, the OPA would
review and execute the waiver before the Ontario general election by a September 30,
2011 deadline.
The map below shows the locations of selected wind projects that sought power
purchase agreements in the West of London and Bruce Regions. In particular, the map
shows the locations of the six projects owned by NextEra that received FIT contract
offers on July 4, 2011, the four wind projects owned by Mesa Power, and the location of
two projects owned by members of the Korean Consortium and Pattern that received
contracts in August 2011.295
293 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Anderson (OPA), Direction to the OPA, August 2,
2012 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0084) 294 The FIT Contract s. 2.4(b) specified that certain NTP Prerequisites were required, including: (i) regulatory
approvals, (ii) financing plan, (iii) domestic content plan, and (iv) electricity connection approvals. Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Contract (FIT Contract) Version 1.5, June 3, 2011, at para. 2.4(a) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0263)
295 The below map was compiled with information from Hydro One's transmission map (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0202); NextEra Energy Canada's Presentation on the Net Zero Proposal in Ontario, August 10, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0207) ; and Leader Resources Summary of FIT Rule Changes, (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0178)
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Figure 3: Map Compiled from Hydro One Transmission Data296
296 Compiled with information from Hydro One's transmission map (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0202)
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D. The Korean Consortium's Green Energy Investment Agreement
215. In June and July, 2009, Minister of Energy George Smitherman went to Korea and met
with the Korean Consortium; meetings continued in Ontario through the summer and
fall of 2009.
216. The GEIA provided further incentives to the Korean Consortium that were not available
to FIT applicants. For simply endeavouring to bring manufacturing facilities to Ontario,
or for identifying existing facilities that could be used to meet Ontario domestic content
requirements imposed by the FIT Program, the Korean Consortium was awarded with
two economic development adders, which had a guaranteed bonus price per kWh for
wind and solar generation that it received. Another preferential treatment that the
Korean Consortium received included a guarantee of transmission capability.
217. On January 21, 2010, two Korean‐controlled companies, Samsung C&T Corporation and
Korea Electric Power Corporation, signed a $7 billion green energy investment
agreement with Ontario's Premier and with Ontario's Minister of Energy called the
Green Energy Investment Agreement.297 The existence of the agreement was made
public, but its terms and conditions were kept secret. The confidential agreement
granted the Korean Consortium guaranteed priority access to transmission capacity for
its renewable energy projects, and an increased contract price per kWh. The Korean
Consortium agreed to build 2000 MW of wind power projects and 500 MW of solar
power projects in Ontario by 2016. Equipment for the deal was to be manufactured in
Ontario and the projects were to be implemented in five phases.
218. The OPA and Ontario Energy Board were not consulted on the GEIA, which has been
described by the Ministry of Energy as an "investment agreement".298 The Auditor
General found that in the negotiation and signing of the GEIA, "the normal due diligence
process for an expenditure of this magnitude had not been followed… we expected but
did not find that a comprehensive and detailed economic analysis had been
prepared."299 It continues and notes that Cabinet approval was not required.300
219. On April 1, 2010, the Minister of Energy issued a Ministerial Direction to the OPA related
to the GEIA directing the OPA to negotiate Power Purchase Agreements with the Korean
297 Samsung C&T Corporation, Article, "Samsung C&T to Build World`s Largest Wind, Solar Panel, Cluster in
Ontario", January 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0020) 298 2011 Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario, Chapter 3, VFM Section 3.03 Electricity Sector‐
Renewable Energy Initiatives, at p. 108 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228) 299 2011 Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario, Chapter 3, VFM Section 3.03 Electricity Sector‐
Renewable Energy Initiatives, at p. 108 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228) 300 2011 Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario, Chapter 3, VFM Section 3.03 Electricity Sector‐
Renewable Energy Initiatives, at p. 108 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228)
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Consortium.301 Shortly thereafter, in June 2010 the OPA commenced a series of
negotiating meetings with the Korean Consortium and its partners to determine the
terms of the Power Purchase Agreements.
220. The Ministerial Direction revealed some of the details of the GEIA, and that the Korean
Consortium had agreed to develop 2,500 MW of wind and solar renewable generation
projects in Ontario in five Phases.302 The Korean Consortium committed to bringing
manufacturing plants to Ontario to manufacture wind and solar generation
components. Phase 1 of the GEIA was to provide for Targeted Generation Capacity of
400 MW of wind power and 100 MW of solar power with the targeted commercial
operation date as of March 31, 2013.303
221. Owing to the advantageous terms afforded under the GEIA, certain proponents that had
put forward contracts under the FIT Program opted instead to partner with the Korean
Consortium to obtain the better terms. One of the proponents was Pattern Energy
Group LLC ("Pattern Energy"), an independent, fully integrated energy company that
develops, constructs, owns and operates renewable energy and transmissions assets in
the United States, Canada and Latin America.304 Following the signing of the GEIA,
Samsung entered into an agreement with Pattern in 2010, through which Pattern
became involved in the development of the first three stages of the GEIA. Through this
partnership, representatives from Pattern and its local Canadian subsidiary participated
in various secret Working‐Group meetings with the government while at the same time
competing for a piece of Ontario's renewable energy market through the FIT Program.
222. Unlike applicants to the FIT Program, whose access to the OPA and Ministry of Energy
was restricted, the Korean Consortium enjoyed open access to the government in the
lead up to and after the negotiation of the GEIA.
223. The Auditor General reported:
"In April 2010, the Minister directed the OPA to give priority to connecting the consortium projects to the grid when assessing the availability of already‐limited transmission capacity. This commitment to the consortium affected the FIT contract allocation process."305
301 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to OPA, April 1, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0089) 302 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to OPA, April 1, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0089) 303 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to OPA, April 1, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0089) 304 Chatham News Article headed 'Pattern Energy and Samsung Renewable Enery Acquire Wind Development
Projects from Suncor Energy and Northland Power", April 18, 2011. (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0101) 305 2011 Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario, Chapter 3, VFM Section 3.03 Electricity Sector‐
Renewable Energy Initiatives, at p. 116 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228)
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224. The OPA admitted that it delayed awarding PPAs for FIT proponents competing for
access because of difficulties in getting the ECT process.
"The OPA could not start to assess the transmission availability until the consortium finalized the connection points for phases two and three of its projects."306
225. After the signing of the GEIA, the Korean Consortium continued to benefit from its
access to the Ontario Government by its participation in meetings with various
government entities. Working‐group meetings between it, the Ministry of Energy, the
Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the OPA, and the IESO. These meetings began in 2010
and continued regularly through 2011; their purpose was to facilitate the
implementation of the GEIA by recommending suitable project sites, facilitating
resolution of issues related to transmission and capacity, and assisting with securing
rights of way to the Transmission System.
226. Further meetings were held with the specific objective of negotiating the terms of
Power Purchase Agreements between Ontario and the Korean Consortium. These
meetings began in June 2010 and continued through at least May 2011.
227. Prior to signing of the GEIA, the Ontario Ministry of Energy had directed the OPA on
September 30, 2009 to hold in reserve 240 MW of transmission capacity in Haldimand
County, Ontario, and a total 260 MW of transmission capacity in Essex County and the
Municipality of Chatham‐Kent jointly for renewable energy generating facilities with
respect to proponents that signed province‐wide framework agreements, in order to
satisfy Phase 1 of the GEIA.307 As a result of the GEIA, the Korean Consortium received a
guaranteed right of first refusal on transmission access in these transmission zones in
the Province of Ontario.
228. A further Ministerial Direction was given to the OPA on July 29, 2011 for the OPA to
enter into PPAs with the Korean Consortium. On August 2, 2011, the OPA entered into
PPAs with the Korean Consortium for four wind projects: K2 Wind Project,308 Armow
Wind Project,309 Haldimand Wind Project,310 and South Kent Wind Project311. As a result
306 2011 Annual Report of the Auditor General of Ontario, Chapter 3, VFM Section 3.03 Electricity Sector‐
Renewable Energy Initiatives, at p. 116 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228) 307 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to OPA, April 1, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0089) 308 K2 Wind Project Power Purchase Agreement between Ontario Power Authority and K2 Wind Ontario Limited
Partnership, August 3, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0287) 309 Armow Wind Project, Power Purchase Agreement between Ontario Power Authority and SP Ontario Wind
Development LP, August 2, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0286) 310 Haldimand Wind Project, Power Purchase Agreement between Ontario Power Authority and Grand Renewable
Wind LP, August 2, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0285) 311 South Kent Wind Project Power Purchase Agreement between Ontario Power Authority and South Kent Wind
LP, August 2, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0284)
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of its guaranteed transmission capacity and this Ministerial Direction, the Korean
Consortium was able to purchase lower‐ranked projects which were otherwise
undeserving of PPAs.
229. On August 3, 2011, the OPA announced changes to the terms granted to the Korea
Consortium.312 The Minister of Energy gave a one‐year extension to the Korean
Consortium.
E. Boulevard's Involvement in the FIT Program
230. In mid‐January 2011, shortly after the OPA announced that 1200MW of contracts would
be offered in the Bruce region, a lobby organization, the Canadian District Energy
Association, contacted the OPA to set up a meeting on behalf of NextEra Energy
Resources, one of Mesa's competitors under the FIT Program, to discuss the migration
of their projects in the "West of London" region to the "Bruce" region.313 In advance of
the meeting, the OPA reminded NextEra:
We have limitations on the extent we can discuss information that is relevant and material to the upcoming ECT process. We will try to be helpful, but as I said to all who wish to discuss this kind of matter with us, we can't recommend, suggest or consult on your specific needs. We can clarify rules and provide better understanding as they related to disclosed information.314
231. The OPA met with this lobby organization and NextEra representatives to discuss "data
confirmation as to what [NextEra] modeled in [their] load flows."315 Following this
meeting, an internal OPA communication recommended that "going forward, [the OPA]
should reflect this potential connection point in [their] studies."316
232. The content of this meeting directly contravened the warning the OPA had sent to
NextEra that it could not "consult on your specific needs". The (date) meeting between
NextEra and the OPA was only the beginning of a unique relationship whereby NextEra
continued to benefit from preferential access to the OPA and Ministry of Energy.
233. A concern for NextEra was the ability to change the connection point for their projects
and gain different access to the transmission system. On February 25, 2011,
representatives of NextEra met with the Ministry of Energy to obtain further
information about how to change their projects' connection point, including the specific
312 Ontario Power Authority, News Release, "Power purchase agreements signed with Korean Consortium", August
3, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0059) 313 Email from Mary Ellen Richardson (Canadian District Energy Association) to Bob Chow (OPA), January 14, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0294) 314 Email from Bobby Adjemian (NextEra Energy) to Bob Chow (OPA), January 18, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0234) 315 Email from Bobby Adjemian (NextEra Energy) to Bob Chow (OPA), January 18, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0234) 316 Email from Tracy Garner (OPA) to Irwin Ng (OPA), January 25, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0095)
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timing of a window to conduct those changes.317 At this time there was no reason for
Mesa, or other applicants, to suspect that they should be considering, or would have the
opportunity to consider, changing their respective connection points.
234. In early April 2011, the IESO scheduled a meeting with NextEra and its representatives
regarding possibilities for connecting to 500kV transmission lines. NextEra would
eventually change connection points in order to connect to these exact transmission
lines.
235. Owing to their possession of unique information gleaned from numerous meetings and
communications with the OPA and Ministry of Energy that began in January, 2011,
NextEra was uniquely prepared to make such a substantial overhaul to its projects when
the announcement was made on June 3.
317 Email from Bob Lopinski (Counsel Public Affairs) to Pearl Ing (Ministry of Energy), February 25, 2011 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0190)
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PART THREE: SUBSTANTIVE LEGAL ISSUES
236. The Investor claims that Canada has violated at least the following provisions of Section
A of NAFTA Chapter 11:
a) Article 1106 – Performance Requirements
b) Article 1102 – National Treatment
c) Article 1103 – Most Favored Nation Treatment
d) Article 1104 – Standard of Treatment
e) Article 1105 – International Law Standards of Treatment
f) Article 1503(2) – State Enterprises
And these breaches have resulted in damage to the Investor.
I. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS‐ ARTICLE 1106
237. NAFTA Article 1106 restricts the imposition of performance requirements on
investments or investors. The prohibited practices are specifically enumerated in NAFTA
Article 1106(1) and Article 1106(3). These prohibitions apply to all investments or
investors including those from non‐NAFTA parties.
238. Article 1106(1) sets out a general prohibition on performance requirements. It states:
No Party may impose or enforce any of the following requirements, or enforce any commitment or undertaking, in connection with the establishment, acquisition, expansion, management, conduct or operation of an investment of an investor of a Party or of a non‐Party in its territory.
(a) to export a given level or percentage of goods or services;
(b) to achieve a given level or percentage of domestic content;
(c) to purchase, use or accord a preference to goods produced or services provided in its territory, or to purchase goods or services from persons in its territory;
(d) to relate in any way the volume or value of imports to the volume or value of exports or to the amount of foreign inflows associated with such investment;
(e) to restrict sales of goods or services in its territory that such an investment produces or provides by relating such sales in any way to the volume or value of its exports or foreign exchange earnings;
(f) to transfer technology, a production process or other proprietary knowledge to a person in its territory, except when the requirement is imposed or the commitment or undertaking is enforced by a court, administrative tribunal or competition authority to remedy an alleged violation of competition laws or to act in a manner not inconsistent with other provisions of this Agreement; or
(g) to act as the exclusive supplier of the goods it produces or services it provides to a specific region or world market.
239. Article 1106(3) lists a sub‐set of performance requirements that cannot be imposed in
connection with the provision of an advantage:
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No Party may condition the receipt or continued receipt of an advantage, in connection with an investment in its territory of an investor of a Party or of a non‐Party, on compliance with any of the following requirements:
(a) to achieve a given level or percentage of domestic content;
(b) to purchase, use or accord a preference to goods produced or services provided in its territory, or to purchase goods or services from persons in its territory;
(c) to relate in any way the volume or value of imports to the volume or value of exports or to the amount of foreign inflows associated with such investment;
(d) to restrict sales of goods or services in its territory that such an investment produces or provides by relating such sales in any way to the volume or value of its exports or foreign exchange earning.
240. Article 1101(1)(c) provides that the NAFTA Parties obligations in Article 1106 apply to
measures adopted or maintained by a Party to all investments in the territory of the
Party. As a result of this wide scope provision, these NAFTA obligations apply broadly,
not only to the investments of investors from other NAFTA Parties, but to all
investments within the territory of a NAFTA Party irrespective of nationality. Thus,
Canada is bound through this broad obligation not to engage in these market distorting
industrial policy activities for investments of any foreign or domestic investor, whether
they come from a NAFTA Party or not.318
241. Performance requirements refer to specific industrial policies that are adopted by the
state. Because these policies can have extensive investment distorting effects, the
NAFTA Parties agreed to impose broad limitations on the future use of these policy
instruments. Similar limits have also been imposed in the WTO Agreement on Trade
Related Investment Measures (TRIMs) Code. Thus, in Canada‐Renewable Energy,
Ontario's local minimum domestic content requirements were found to be
impermissible performance requirements under the TRIMs Agreement. There is a close
relationship between the National Treatment obligation in the GATT and the TRIMs
Agreement such that a local content requirement that violates TRIMS would normally
have been found to violate the National Treatment obligation in Article III:4 of the GATT.
242. Performance requirements can only be imposed if:
a) Direct performance requirements are set out in a regulatory scheme, government
policy or practice; and
b) Indirect performance requirements are imposed where a measure has the effect of
according an advantage to domestic over foreign interests. In Canada ‐ Foreign
318 Appleton, B. Navigating NAFTA: A Concise User's Guide to the North American Free Trade Agreement
(Scarborough: Carswell, 1994) ("Appleton (1994)"), at p. 83. The author notes that the obligations in the NAFTA go further than those in the GATT or in the earlier Canada‐ US Free Trade Agreement (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐037)
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Investment Review Act, for example, the GATT Panel found undertakings to purchase
goods manufactured in Canada which were given in order to obtain governmental
approval for an investment, constituted prohibited requirements which gave less
favourable treatment to imported products.319
243. A Performance Requirement must also be related to a specified investment activity such
as the operation, expansion or conduct of the investment.
319 Canada ‐ Administration of the Foreign Investment Review Act, L/5504 ‐ 30S/140, Report of the Panel (7
February 1984) ("Canada ‐ Foreign Investment Review Act ‐ Panel Report"), at para. 5.13 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐038)
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II. NATIONAL TREATMENT
244. NAFTA Article 1102 prescribes the treatment the NAFTA Parties are to provide to the
investors of another Party and their investments:
National Treatment
Each Party shall accord to Investor of another Party treatment no less favorable than that it accords, in like circumstances, to its own Investor with respect to the establishment, acquisition, expansion, management, conduct, operation, and sale or other disposition of investments.
Each Party shall accord to investments of Investor of another Party treatment no less favorable than that it accords, in like circumstances, to investments of its own Investor with respect to the establishment, acquisition, expansion, management, conduct, operation, and sale or other disposition of investments.
245. NAFTA Article 1102 obliges the NAFTA Parties to treat investors from other NAFTA
Parties and their investments as favorably as it treats domestic investors and their
investments operating in like circumstances.
246. Canada treated the Investor and its Investment less favorably than domestic investors
operating in like circumstances. Other investors or Investments in like circumstances
were treated more favorably.
247. Each of the ways in which Canada and Ontario treated the Investor and its Investments
less favorably than other Canadian investors and investments in like circumstances
constitutes a violation of NAFTA Article 1102.
248. The purpose of Article 1102 is to ensure that investors and the investments of investors
from the United States or Mexico receive treatment equivalent to that provided to the
most favorably treated Canadian investor or its investment. The purpose of the
obligation is clear: it is to ensure that Canadian governments do not provide better
treatment to locals than that provided to foreigners.
249. NAFTA Article 1103 provides a similar obligation to provide investors and their
investments the best treatment provided to investors of a third party state.
250. NAFTA Article 1104 confirms that the NAFTA's intent is to provide the investments of an
investor from another NAFTA party with the best treatment provided in like
circumstances in the jurisdiction, whether it be national treatment or most favoured
nation treatment.
251. The terms "national treatment", "most favored nation treatment" and "fair and
equitable treatment", are not specifically defined in the NAFTA, but they have been
used in more than 1,000 bilateral investment treaties. So the NAFTA, like these many
other agreements, chose to incorporate the living meaning of these well‐known
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international law terms – a meaning that comes from countless international tribunal
decisions and from international customary law.
252. The meaning of "national treatment" is therefore based on the ordinary meaning of the
words, in their context, and in light of NAFTA's object and purpose, as the Vienna
Convention mandates. National treatment is one of three fundamental interpretative
principles informing the meaning of the entire NAFTA.320
253. Acknowledging Article 1102's origins in, and similarity to, GATT Article III:4, several
NAFTA Tribunals have drawn from GATT Article III:4 jurisprudence in interpreting the
elements of Article 1102.321 Indeed, in applying this jurisprudence, the Feldman Tribunal
noted that GATT Article III:4 is "analogous" to Article 1102 of the NAFTA.322
254. There are three elements which an investor or investment needs to establish for a
NAFTA Party to be held in breach of NAFTA Article 1102:
a) The foreign investor or investment must be in like circumstances with local Investor
or investments;
b) The NAFTA Party treated the foreign investor or investment less favorably than it
treated local investors or investments; and
c) The treatment must be with respect to the establishment, acquisition, expansion,
management, conduct, operation, and sale or other disposition of investments.
A. Likeness
255. Similar to the likeness test under NAFTA Article 1103, the likeness test under NAFTA
Article 1102 compares, for the purposes of the arbitration, the "like circumstances"
between local Canadian proponents and a foreign NAFTA Party Investor and its
Investment.
320 NAFTA Article 102(1). In addition to its use in NAFTA Article 1102, several other NAFTA provisions oblige the
Parties to accord national treatment. For example, there are national treatment obligations for goods (Article 301), for energy (Article 602), for services (Article 1202) and for financial services (Article 1405).
321 S. D. Myers ‐ First Partial Award, at para. 244 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐033); Pope & Talbot Inc. v. The Government of Canada, Award on the Merits of Phase 2 (April 10, 2001) ("Pope & Talbot ‐ Award on Merits of Phase 2") para. 68, 69 and footnote 68 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐039); Feldman ‐ Award, at para. 165 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐040)
322 Feldman v. United Mexican States, Award, 2002 WL 32818521 (December 16, 2002) ("Feldman ‐ Award"), at para. 165 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐040): "The national treatment/non‐discrimination provision is a fundamental obligation of Chapter 11. The concept is not new with NAFTA. Analogous language in Article III of the GATT has applied as between Canada and the United States since 1947, and with Mexico since 1985, with regard to trade in goods."
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256. The comparison between the circumstances of foreign and domestic investments needs
only be "like". There can be many differences in circumstances, but once the threshold
of likeness is met, a comparison of treatment follows.
257. Likeness needs to be considered in the circumstances. Where the question of likeness
arises in the context of government regulations, likeness requires the Tribunal to
consider all of those who are competing for similar regulatory permissions. This was the
approach taken by the NAFTA Tribunal in Grand River323, and the approach taken in
Occidental Petroleum.324 In this NAFTA claim, all of those, who like Mesa Power sought
regulatory permission from Ontario to obtain Power Purchase Agreements directed by
the Government of Ontario to be offered by the Ontario Power Authority, are in like
circumstances. This is the class of investments and investors whose treatment needs to
be considered.
258. Where it is a process of general application that is itself at issue, such as the process to
obtain Power Purchase Agreements from the Government of Ontario, all entities,
domestic and foreign, are like in being subject to the same regulatory regime.
259. In Grand River the Tribunal surveyed the approach taken by five recent NAFTA Tribunals
to discern a pattern and common approach to the analysis of "like circumstances". The
Tribunal in Grand River reviewed the approach taken by Tribunals in Pope & Talbot, Inc.
v. Canada, ADF Group, Inc. v. United States of America, Feldman v. Mexico, Methanex
Corp. v. United States of America, and United Parcel Service of America v. Canada (UPS).
It concluded that what matters most in ascertaining whether investors and investments
are in like circumstances is whether they are governed by the same legal regime:
The reasoning of these cases shows the identity of the legal regime(s) applicable to a claimant and its purported comparators to be a compelling factor in assessing whether like is indeed being
compared to like for purposes of Articles 1102 and 1103.325
Therefore, investors and investments will be in like circumstances when they are
competing in the same market of regulatory treatment and the question is about the
regulatory treatment accorded to them.
260. Although the origin of the obligation dates back over a century, the main influences on
NAFTA Article 1102 are equivalent provisions in the WTO's GATT and GATS.326 The
323 Grand River Enterprises Six Nations, Ltd. et al. v. United States of America, Award (January 12, 2011) ("Grand
River ‐ Award"), at para. 167 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐041) 324 Occidental Production Company v. Republic of Ecuador, Final Award, 2004 WL 3267260 (July 1, 2004)
("Occidental ‐ Final Award"), at para. 173 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐027) 325 Grand River ‐ Award, at para. 167 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐041) 326 The interpretive principle of Most‐Favoured Nation Treatment contained in NAFTA Article 102 would also
strongly support a relationship between these agreements and NAFTA. So does Article 103 which specifically addresses that relationship.
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relationship between the NAFTA and the GATT is expressed in the preamble of the
NAFTA, where the NAFTA Parties expressly recognize that the NAFTA is built on "their
respective rights and obligations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade."327
The NAFTA and WTO national treatment provisions are virtually identical. GATT Article
III:4 states:
The products of the territory of any contracting party imported into the territory of any other contracting party shall be accorded treatment no less favorable than that accorded to like products of national origin in respect of all laws, regulations and requirements affecting their internal sale, offering for sale, purchase, transportation, distribution or use.
Similarly, Article XII of the GATS says:
... each Member shall accord to services and service suppliers of any other Member, in respect of all measures affecting the supply of services, treatment no less favorable than it accords to its own like services and service suppliers...
The requirement of "no less favorable" treatment is the same. Indeed, the Pope &
Talbot Tribunal described Article 12 of the GATS as "identical" to NAFTA Article
1102(2).328
261. Canada's Statement of Implementation also expressly acknowledges the influence of the
GATT/WTO on the NAFTA:
The NAFTA and the Uruguay Round agreements cover much of the same ground and the two sets of rules are largely complementary and mutually reinforcing. In many respects, the NAFTA built on progress that had been made in the Uruguay Round while the Round in turn profited from the experience of Canada, the United States and Mexico in negotiating the NAFTA.329
262. It is clear from Canada's own statement, made in regard to the implementation of the
NAFTA, that the GATT and the NAFTA negotiations were inter‐connected and inter‐
dependent.
263. The origins of NAFTA Article 1102, GATT Article III, the common wording in the
provisions, the equivalent purposes and Canada's acknowledgement of the influence of
the WTO provisions on the NAFTA enshrines that GATT/WTO national treatment
jurisprudence informs the meaning of the three elements of NAFTA Article 1102. It is for
this very reason that NAFTA Tribunals have drawn from GATT/WTO jurisprudence to
interpret the elements of NAFTA Article 1102.330
327 The preamble forms an integral part of the NAFTA and it must be given meaning in the interpretation of the
NAFTA pursuant to NAFTA Article 102 and the Vienna Convention. 328 Pope & Talbot ‐ Award on Merits of Phase 2, at para. 52 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐032) 329 Canadian Statement on Implementation, at p. 75 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐012) 330 S. D. Myers ‐ First Partial Award, at para. 244, (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐033) Pope & Talbot
‐ Award on Merits of Phase 2, at para. 68 ‐ 69, footnote 68 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐039); Feldman – Award, at para. 165 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐040)
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264. Other tribunals have also considered competition as being the critical element of
likeness. In the result, all of those, who like Mesa competed for Power Purchase
Agreements offered by the Ontario Power Authority at the direction of the Ontario
Government, were in like circumstances, and this is the class of investments whose
treatment needs to be considered in the context of regulatory permission.
265. The WTO Panel in Canada – Renewable Energy concluded that Canada had violated the
GATT Article III:4 national treatment obligation in its operation of the FIT Program,
especially on account of the presence of clear discriminatory provisions within the
program.
266. Relying on the findings from the Panel, the WTO Appellate Body considered that
likeness was to be considered on the basis of "products that are directly competitive to
or substitutable with the product purchased under the challenged measure and
concluded:
Article III:8(a) thus concerns, in the first instance, the product that is subject to the discrimination. The coverage of Article III:8 extends not only to products that are identical to the product that is purchased, but also to "like" products. In accordance with the Ad Note to Article III:2, it also extends to products that are directly competitive to or substitutable with the product purchased under the challenged measure. For convenience, this range of products can be described as products that are in a competitive relationship. What constitutes a competitive relationship between products may require consideration of inputs and processes of production used to produce the product.331
267. The existence of a difference does not make one investor unlike another for the
purposes of like circumstances. That is why the words used in the NAFTA are "like
circumstances", and not "identical circumstances".
268. As the GATT has recognized, judgment needs to be applied.332 And the interpretation
and application of the test of likeness must further the objectives of equality of
competitive opportunity.333 In other words, the analysis is, in substance, a matter of
functional common sense.
331 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ AB Report, at para. 5.63 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐002) 332 United States ‐ Measures Affecting Alcoholic and Malt Beverages (US‐Malt Beverages), DS23/R, GAIT Panel
Report, (June 19, 1992) BISD 395/206 ("US‐Malt Beverages"), at paras. 5.23 – 5.26 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐043)
333 The words "treatment no less favorable" were used in NAFTA Article 1102 as their meaning had been considered extensively in GATT jurisprudence. This jurisprudence had interpreted "treatment no less favorable" as requiring equality of competitive opportunities. See, for example, United States ‐ Taxes in Petroleum and Certain Imported Substances, Report of the Panel 1987 WL 421960 (G.A.T.T.) (June 17, 1987) ("Taxes in Petroleum ‐ Panel Report"), at para. 5.2.2 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐044); EC Asbestos ‐ AB Report, at para. 99 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐045)
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B. Treatment No Less Favorable
269. NAFTA Article 1102's second element is the obligation to accord a foreign investor and
its investments with "treatment no less favourable" than that provided to domestic
investors in like circumstances.
270. The interpretive task for the Tribunal therefore begins with the text of Article 1102. But
is not completed until Article 1102 is examined in the context of the NAFTA as a whole.
271. The context and objectives of the NAFTA make it clear that Article 1102 requires the
NAFTA Parties to provide equality of competitive opportunities. The notion of equality
of competitive opportunities allows for different treatment that is not less favorable
treatment. It allows a regulatory process to produce different outcomes, as long as the
process demonstrably treats the parties with evenhandedness, to ensure that
investments are granted equal opportunities. To be evenhanded, the treatment need
not be identical. Neither does the result need to be equal. But the opportunities must
be equal.
272. The text of Article 1102 makes clear that it requires a difference of nationality between
the more favourably treated local investor or investment and the Claimant investor or
its investment. But it contains no requirement of intentional nationality‐based
discrimination. A violation of national treatment can be easily seen when there is actual
nationality‐based discrimination, but intentional nationality‐based discrimination is not
an element of Article 1102.
273. The Feldman Tribunal pointed out that NAFTA Article 1102 does not require an investor
to demonstrate explicitly that a distinction is a result of their foreign nationality.334 It
also noted the Pope & Talbot Tribunal's observation that requiring proof of intent would
effectively limit NAFTA Article 1102 to de jure violations, thereby severely limiting the
effectiveness of the National Treatment concept in protecting foreign investors.335
274. The Feldman Tribunal also noted:
… requiring a foreign investor to prove that discrimination is based on his nationality could be an insurmountable burden to the Claimant, as that information may only be available to the government. It would be virtually impossible for any claimant to meet the burden of demonstrating that a government's motivation for discrimination is nationality rather than some other reason.336
334 Feldman – Award, at para. 181 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐040) 335 Feldman ‐ Award, at para. 183, 184 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐040), citing to Pope & Talbot,
Award on the Merits of Phase 2, April 10, 2001, at paras. 78 and 79 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐039) According to the Pope & Talbot Tribunal, was that showing discrimination based on nationality would "tend to excuse discrimination that is not facially directed at foreign owned investments."
336 Feldman ‐ Award, at para. 183 (Respondent's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐040)
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275. However, both de jure and de facto discrimination is covered by NAFTA Article 1102.
276. A Joint Review Panel administered by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
requested that the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to
send an official to public hearings to explain the meaning of Chapter Eleven of the
NAFTA. The Department sent a senior official, Gilles Gauthier, the Director of the
Investment Trade Policy Division, together with departmental legal counsel, to provide
an official government explanation of the meaning of Chapter Eleven of the NAFTA. In
his formal presentation, Mr. Gauthier confirmed that NAFTA Article 1102 "prohibits
both de facto or de jure discrimination".337
277. De jure discrimination occurs when government measures on their face impose a
difference in treatment based on nationality.
278. De facto discrimination is established by facts that show the detrimental treatment of a
foreign investor, not only in the nature and magnitude of a difference in treatment but
in relation to whether it can be objectively justified by non‐nationality based legitimate
considerations.
279. In essence, the National Treatment obligation to accord "treatment no less favourable"
means that a Party cannot modify the "competitive opportunities" to the detriment of
another Party's investors and its investments.338 GATT/ WTO case law establishes that it
is an objective test, applicable to both de jure and de facto measures,339 and serves to
guarantee that foreign economic interests receive the best treatment given to domestic
interests. NAFTA Tribunals have adopted the same approach.340
280. After an investor has demonstrated that the different results stem from different
competitive opportunities, the evidentiary burden shifts to the Government to excuse
the prima facie violation of national treatment. And the burden on the government is a
strict one. It requires the government to show that the less favorable treatment was
necessary.
337 Transcript of Mr. Gilles Gauthier's Presentation by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to
the Bilcon of Delaware Joint Review Panel, June 19, 2007, at p. 2 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0421) 338 See, for example, European Communities ‐ Protection of Trademarks and Geographical Indications for
Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs, WT/DS290/R, Report of the Panel (March 15, 2005) ("EC‐Agricultural Products"), at para. 178 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐046); Taxes in Petroleum ‐ Panel Report, at para. 5.2.2 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐044); European Communities ‐ Protection of Trademarks and Geographical Indications for Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs, WT/DS290/R, Report of the Panel (March 15, 2005) ("EC‐Agricultural Products") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐046)
339 For clarity, "de jure" means by law, whereas "de facto" means while not law, there is evidence in practice. 340 Merrill & Ring – Award, at para. 80 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐036); S.D. Myers, First Partial
Award, at para. 254 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐033); and Feldman – Award, at para. 187 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐040)
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281. So, where there is different treatment in like circumstances, the burden is on Canada to
show that the different treatment was not less favourable, or not necessary. Canada
cannot meet that burden.
282. Common to NAFTA tribunals ‐most explicitly in Feldman‐and recent decisions of the
WTO Appellate Body on National Treatment, is the notion that once the nature and
magnitude of the difference of treatment between likes has been established by the
Investor, the burden shifts to the Respondent to show that this difference, both its
nature and magnitude can be fully accounted for by legitimate regulatory considerations
such as non‐nationality related considerations.
283. This was the approach taken by the WTO Appellate Body in Tuna II:
With respect to the burden of showing that a technical regulation is inconsistent with Article 2.1 of the TBT Agreement, we recall that it is well‐established "that the burden of proof rests upon the party, whether complaining or defending, who asserts the affirmative of a particular claim or defence".462 Where the complaining party has met the burden of making its prima facie case, it is then for the responding party to rebut that showing.341
284. In this case, considerations of nationality lay below the surface and sometimes came up
to the surface in relation to Mesa. The WTO's finding of that presence of nationality‐
based local content preferences demonstrates the existence of nationality –based
discriminatory considerations directly within the government measure at issue.
285. The issue of discriminatory effects of the FIT program against foreign investors was a
prominent issue before the WTO. The WTO Panel's findings of underlying discrimination
in the FIT Program against persons who were not from Ontario,342 and the resulting
benefit to locals who were from Ontario, are certainly sufficient to require Canada to
prove that the FIT Program did not constitute a discriminatory regime. 2) Moreover, it is
notable that in the WTO proceeding Canada did not even attempt to offer a defense of
its measures as necessary for or in relation to legitimate public policy objectives, as
provided for in Article XX, the general exceptions provision of the GATT.
286. In these circumstances, it is entirely reasonable to require a full demonstration on
Canada's part that all differences of treatment between Mesa and Canadian entities
subject to the same regulatory process were fully justified by objective regulatory
considerations.
287. As the difficulties with the discovery process in this case illustrate, the Investor cannot
easily access the internal deliberations of governments to reveal all the considerations
341 United States – Measures Concerning the Importation, Marketing and Sale of Tuna and Tuna Products,
WT/DS381/AB/R, Report of the Appellate Body (May 16, 2012) ("US‐Tuna II‐Apellate Body") para. 216 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐047)
342 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ AB Report, at para. 5.63 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐002)
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that affected the treatment Mesa received. This is exactly why the law puts the onus on
the Responding state to prove that objective legitimate considerations can fully account
for the difference in treatment.
288. Canada's obligation to provide Mesa with "treatment no less favorable" required that
Canada accord Mesa treatment that was the same as the best treatment received by
domestic investors in direct competition with Mesa. This is not only required by the
jurisprudence,343 but by the plain wording of NAFTA Article 1102(3) itself:
The treatment accorded by a Party under paragraphs 1 and 2 means, with respect to a state or province, treatment no less favorable than the most favorable treatment accorded, in like circumstances, by that state or province to investors, and to investments of investors, of the Party of which it forms a part. [emphasis added]
C. "With Respect to the Establishment, Acquisition, Expansion, Management, Conduct,
Operation, and Sale or Other Disposition of Investments"
289. NAFTA Article 1102 requires that the treatment involved must be with respect to the
establishment, acquisition, expansion, management, conduct, operation, and sale or
other disposition of investments. An application for a FIT Contract undoubtedly satisfies
that requirement.
343 United States ‐ Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, Report of the
Panel (November 7, 1989), ("US‐Section 337"), at para. 511 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐048)
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III. MOST FAVORED NATION TREATMENT
290. NAFTA Article 1103 says:
4. Each Party shall accord to investors of another Party treatment no less favorable than that it accords, in like circumstances, to investors of any other Party or of a non‐Party with respect to the establishment, acquisition, expansion, management, conduct, operation, and sale or other disposition of investments.
5. Each Party shall accord to investments of investors of another Party treatment no less favorable than that it accords, in like circumstances, to investments of investors of any other Party or of a non‐Party with respect to the establishment, acquisition, expansion, management, conduct, operation, and sale or other disposition of investments.
291. NAFTA Article 1103 entitles Mesa Power and its investment to receive the best level of
treatment available to any foreign investors or investments in Ontario, and requires
Canada to provide Mesa with treatment no less favorable than that provided to foreign
investors or investments under other international agreements to which Canada is a
party. Canada has not met this obligation. Article 1103.
292. The concept of Most‐Favored‐Nation (MFN) treatment is one of the longest‐standing
principles of international economic law. Prof. John Jackson dates it back to the 17th
century.344 Bilateral investment treaties frequently included this obligation which
ensures investors treatment as favorable as that given to investors from any third party
country. The commitment reflects long‐standing trade obligations contained in
numerous international agreements, including the GATT and WTO.345
293. When combined, National Treatment and Most Favored Nation require governments to
provide to the investments of foreign treaty investors the best treatment provided to
any investor, whether domestic or foreign.
294. Consistent amongst commentators, lawyers, and economists, the concept of MFN is
rooted in strong economic rationales.346 Viewed as a "central pillar of the international
trading system", the MFN Treatment obligation has served as an important tool in
multilateral trade negotiations:
[B]y giving the investors of all parties benefitting from a country's MFN clause the right, in similar circumstances, to treatment no less favourable than a country's closest or most influential
344 Jackson, J.H. World Trade and the Law of GATT (Bobbs‐Merrill Company, 1969), extracts ("Jackson (1969)"), at
pp. 249‐250 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐049) Professor Jackson suggests that the Most Favoured Nation obligation first appeared at the end of the 17th century.
345 General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs ("GATT") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐050), General Agreement on Trade in Service, World Trade Organization (WTO) Status of Legal Instruments WTO/Leg/1 Supplement 3, (October 2002) ("GATS"), Articles I and II (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐190)
346 Horn, H. and Petros C Mavroidis, "Economic and legal aspects of the Most‐Favoured Nation Clause", European Journal of Political Economics, Volume 17, 2001 ("Horn (2001)"), at p. 234 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐051)
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partners can negotiate on the matters the clause covers, MFN avoids economic distortions that would occur through more selective country‐by‐country liberalisation.347
295. In addition to sharing similar purposes with National Treatment, the MFN obligation
appears throughout the NAFTA and the WTO agreements, which were negotiated
concurrently with the NAFTA.348 Although the MFN Treatment obligation originated
centuries ago, the main influence on NAFTA Article 1103 were the equivalent provisions
in the GATT and GATS.349
296. The relationship between the NAFTA and the GATT is expressed in the Preamble of the
NAFTA, in which the NAFTA Parties expressly recognised that the NAFTA is built on
"their respective rights and obligations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade." Thus, like the WTO, the non‐discrimination obligations to afford National
Treatment and MFN Treatment are at the heart of the NAFTA.
297. Tribunals considering Most Favored Nation clauses similar to NAFTA Article 1103 have
also interpreted these clauses to ensure they fulfill their purpose. In Asian Agricultural
Products v Sri Lanka, for example, the Tribunal held that the Sri Lanka‐UK BIT equivalent
of Article 1103:
...may be invoked to increase the host State's liability in case a higher standard of international protection becomes granted to investments pertaining to nationals of a Third state.350
298. MFN treatment has interpretive as well as substantive effect. Under NAFTA Article
102(1), the NAFTA Parties specifically said that the MFN principle was one of the
principles and rules that must inform the interpretation of the NAFTA's provisions, in
light of their context and the NAFTA's objectives.
299. The elements which establish that a NAFTA Party has breached NAFTA Article 1103 are:
a) The foreign investor or investment was in like circumstances to other investors or
investments of any other Party or non‐NAFTA party;
347 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), "Most‐Favoured‐Nation Treatment in
International Investment Law", Working Papers on International Investment Law No. 2004/2, OECD Paris, September 2004 ("OECD ‐ MFN (2004)") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐052)
348 For example, there are most‐favoured‐nation obligations for goods (Article 308), for services (Article 1203) and for financial services (Article 1406).
349 Both Articles 103 and 1103 strongly support a relationship between these WTO agreements and the NAFTA. In addition the impact of the GATT upon the most‐favoured‐nation non‐discrimination provision is evidenced by the early drafting stages of NAFTA Article 1103, which centred upon the Mexican‐US proposal for additional "GATT exception"‐type language; See Kinnear, M., Andrea K. Bjorklund, John F.G. Hannaford, Investment Disputes Under NAFTA: An Annotated Guide to NAFTA Chapter 11, June 2006, Article 1103 Most‐Favoured Nation Treatment, (London: Kluwer, 2006) ("Kinnear (2006)"), at pp. 2‐1103 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐053)
350 Asian Agricultural Products v. Sri Lanka, 4 ICSID Reports 246, Award (June 27, 1990) ("Asian Agricultural Products – Award"), at para. 43 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐055)
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b) The NAFTA Party treated the foreign investor or investment less favorably than it
treated third party investors or investments; and
c) The treatment was with respect to the establishment, acquisition, expansion,
management, conduct, operation, and sale or other disposition of investments.
A. Likeness
300. NAFTA Article 1103 requires investments to establish that the Investor or its investment
be "in like circumstance" with other investors, or their investments.
301. The comparison between the circumstances of foreign and domestic investments needs
only to be "like". There can be many differences in circumstances, but once the
threshold of likeness is met, a comparison of treatment follows.
302. Foreign investors are to be accorded "treatment no less favorable" than domestic
investors "in like circumstances". It does not require them to be in "identical"
circumstances.
303. Focussing NAFTA Article 1103 analysis on the competitive relationship between
investors is also required by the context and purposes of the NAFTA.
304. The Columbia‐Ports panel considered the meaning of likeness under GATT Article I:1,
and rejected the notion that likeness must be for the same or similar specific goods.351
The Panel considered whether advance customs entry clearance procedures available to
goods originating from some WTO Members, but not others, constituted an advantage
for importers from those WTO Members which were allegedly provided with the more
favourable treatment. With regard to the meaning of "like products" in the GATT MFN
obligation, the Panel concluded that when examining generally applicable regulation, it
was not necessary to examine whether the better treatment was provided to the same
or similar specific goods when coming from other WTO Members, but rather whether
better customs treatment was provided generally to goods from those Members. The
Panel found that the more favourable treatment provided under the regulatory scheme
was afforded not on the basis of a distinction between products, but "rather [based] on
the territory from which the product arrives."352
305. The essence of a violation of MFN provisions was also articulated by the Parkerings
Tribunal:
351 Colombia ‐ Indicative Prices and Restrictions on Ports of Entry, Report of the Panel, WT/DS366/R (April 27, 2009)
("Columbia ‐ Indicative Prices ‐ Panel Report"), at para. 7.355 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐056)
352 Columbia ‐ Indicative Prices ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.355 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐056)
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The essential condition of the violation of a MFN clause is the existence of a different treatment accorded to another foreign investor in a similar situation. Therefore, a comparison is necessary with an investor in like circumstances. The notion of like circumstances has been broadly analyzed by Tribunals.353
306. In Maffezini v. Spain the Tribunal held that the MFN provision could provide an Investor
with a higher level of procedural protection contained in another treaty than in the
treaty which initiated the arbitration.
From the above considerations it can be concluded that if a third party treaty contains provisions for the settlement of disputes that are more favorable to the protection of the investor's rights and interests than those in the basic treaty, such provisions may be extended to the beneficiary of the most favored nation clause.354
307. In MTD v. Chile, the Tribunal applied MFN to provide more substantive fair and
equitable treatment, which was imported from another treaty.
The Tribunal has concluded that, under the BIT, the fair and equitable standard of treatment has to be interpreted in the manner most conducive to fulfill the objective of the BIT to protect investments and create conditions favorable to investments. The Tribunal considers that to include as part of the protections of the BIT those included in Article 3(1) of the Denmark BIT and Article 3(3) and (4) of the Croatia BIT is in consonance with this purpose.355
308. Other tribunals have considered the issue of competition as being critical to establish
likeness. For the purposes of this arbitration, all of those, who like Mesa, competed for
Power Purchase Agreements offered by the Ontario Power Authority at the direction of
the Ontario Government, were in like circumstances. This is the class of investments
whose treatment needs to be considered under the regulatory permission likeness test.
B. Treatment No Less Favorable
309. The second element of NAFTA Article 1103 is the obligation to accord a foreign investor
and its investments with "treatment no less favourable" than that provided to domestic
investors in like circumstances.
310. Treatment is informed by the regulatory framework in which the measure is being
applied. The Bayinder v. Pakistan Tribunal interpreted "treatment" in the MFN
obligation to consist of all dealings between the host state and the investor. The
353 Parkerings ‐ Compagniet AS v. Republic of Lithuania, Award, 2007 WL 5366481 (September 11, 2007)
("Parkerings ‐ Award"), at para. 369 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐057) 354 Maffezini v. Kingdom of Spain, ICSID Case No. ARB/97/7, Decision on Objections to Jurisdiction (January 25,
2000) ("Maffezini v. Spain ‐ Jurisdiction") para. 56 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐191) MFN provisions were also applied to procedural matters in Compania de Agua del Aconquija S.A. and Vivendi Universal S.A. v. Argentine Republic, ICSID Case No. ARB/97/3, Decision on Request for Annulment of Award (August 10, 2010) para. 57 ("Vivendi v. Argentina") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐059)
355 MTD Equity Sdn. Bhd. & MTD Chile S.A. v. Chile, Award, 2004 WL 3254661 (May 25, 2004) ("MTD Equity ‐ Award"), at para. 104 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐060) In Bayindir Insaat Turzim Ticaret Ve Sanayi, A.S. v. Islamic Republic of Pakistan, ICSID Case No. ARB./03/29, Decision on Jurisdiction (November 14, 2005) ("Bayindir ‐ Jurisdiction"), at para. 206 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐061)
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Tribunal held that even though all investors are subject to the same legal and regulatory
framework, the obligation may be violated by treatment that involves the exercise of
discretion by officials within that framework in a manner that favours some investors in
"similar situations" over others.356 The Tribunal interpreted the MFN clause in the
Pakistan‐Turkey Investment Treaty to import the fair and equitable standard found in
other treaties entered into by Pakistan, as the Pakistan‐Turkey Treaty did not contain a
fair and equitable treatment clause.357
311. In White Industries v. India the Tribunal found that ensuring better treatment for
investors through MFN provisions was not a distortion of the treaty and was in fact
necessary to achieve the treaty's objectives. "This does not "subvert" the negotiated
balance of the BIT. Instead, it achieves exactly the result which the parties intended by
the incorporation in the BIT of an MFN clause."358 To determine the applicability of an
MFN provision the Tribunal stated that the working assumption must be that the
treatment in question is covered by the MFN provision. "The sole relevant factor is
whether MFN treatment applies or whether it is subject to an explicit or implicit
exception."359
312. The Tribunal in MTD Equity also added that giving the claimants the protection offered
in the Croatian Treaty was consonant with the purpose of interpreting treaty standards
"in the manner most conducive to fulfill the objective of the BIT to protect investments
and create conditions favorable to investments."360
313. The Siemens Tribunal interpreted the MFN clause in a similar way. In deciding to give
the investor the protection offered in the clause, the Tribunal said "the term ‘treatment'
[in the MFN clause] is so general that the Tribunal cannot limit its application except as
specifically agreed by the parties."361
314. The Rumeli Tribunal decided that the Investor's international obligations assumed in
other bilateral treaties, and in particular, the United Kingdom‐Kazakhstan bilateral
356 Bayindir ‐ Jurisdiction, at para. 206 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐061) 357 Bayindir ‐ Jurisdiction, at paras. 205‐206, 213 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐061) 358 White Industries Australia Limited v. The Republic of India, Final Award (30 November 2011) ("White Industries‐
Award") para. 11.2.4 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐062) 359 White Industries – Award, at para. 11.2.8 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐062) Quoting Schill,
Stephan W. "Multilateralizing Investment Treaties through Most‐Favoured‐Nation Clauses", (2009) 27 Berkeley Journal of International Law, 496 ("Schill (2009)") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐063)
360 The Tribunal eventually found Chile had not breached the MFN clause because the Croatian treaty only required Chile to issue permits in accordance with local law and issuing the permits to the Malaysian investors would have required a change of law. MTD Equity – Award, at para. 104 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐060)
361 Siemens ‐ Decision on Jurisdiction, at para. 106 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐021)
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investment treaty, was applicable in the case.362 As a result, the Rumeli Tribunal found
that other obligations related to fair and equitable treatment applied in this case.363
315. The Maffezini v Spain Tribunal allowed the claimant to rely on the MFN clause within
the Argentina ‐ Spain BIT to have the benefit of the more favorable dispute settlement
provisions within the Chile ‐ Spain BIT.364
316. An overarching concept in the analysis of treatment is even‐handedness. The WTO
Appellate Body in Clove Cigarettes365 held that technical regulations should be applied
"in an even‐handed manner." While the AB in Cloves acknowledged that a Member
Country could regulate to achieve legitimate policy objectives, the regulations could not
be applied in a manner that would constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable
discrimination, or a disguised restriction on international trade.366 Differences in
treatment that are not applied in an even‐handed manner violate an investor's
protections under MFN.
317. An important decision in this regard is Parkerings v. Lithuania.367 The Tribunal in that
case said:
Discrimination is to be ascertained by looking at the circumstances of the individual cases. Discrimination involves either issues of law, such as legislation affording different treatments in function of citizenship, or issues of fact where a State unduly treats differently investors who are in similar circumstances. […] However, to violate international law, discrimination must be unreasonable or lacking proportionality, for instance, it must be inapposite or excessive to achieve an otherwise legitimate objective of the State. An objective justification may justify differentiated treatments of similar cases. It would be necessary, in each case, to evaluate the exact circumstances and the context. The essential condition of the violation of a MFN clause is the existence of a different treatment accorded to another foreign investor in a similar situation.368
318. In COOL, the WTO Appellate Body held a range of factors must be accounted for and the
impact of the measure must be looked at broadly:
362 Rumeli Telekom A.S. and Telsim Mobil Telekomikasyon Hizmetleri A.S. v. Republic of Kazakhstan, Award, 2008
WL 4819868 (July 29, 2008) ("Rumeli ‐ Award"), at para. 575 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐064)
363 Rumeli ‐ Award, at para. 575 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐064) 364 Maffezini v. Kingdom of Spain, Award, 2000 WL 34513944 (November 9, 2000) ("Maffezini ‐ Award"), at para. 21
[emphasis added] (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐058) 365 United States ‐ Measures Affecting the Production and Sale of Clove Cigarettes, Report of the Appellate Body,
WT/DS406/AB/R (April 12, 2012) ("Clove Cigarettes ‐ AB Report"), at para. 95 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐065)
366 Clove Cigarettes ‐ AB Report, at para. 95 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐065) 367 Parkerings – Award (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐057) 368 Most Favoured Nation Treatment, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), UNCTAD
Series on Issues in International Investment Agreements II (New York and Geneva: 2010) ("MFN, UNCTAD") para. 64 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐066) quoting Parkerings – Award, paras. 368‐369 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐057)
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A panel's analysis must take into consideration the totality of the facts and circumstances before it, including any implications for competitive conditions discernible from the design and structure of the measure itself, as well as all features of the particular market at issue that are relevant to the measure's operation within that market. In this regard, "any adverse impact on competitive opportunities for imported products vis‐à‐vis like domestic products that is caused by a particular measure may potentially be relevant" to a panel's assessment of less favourable treatment under Article 2.1.369
319. The Appellate Body summarized the steps to be taken in the analysis:
[A] panel should analyze whether a measure is even‐handed to determine whether the measure has a detrimental impact, as well as to determine whether that impact stems exclusively from a legitimate regulatory distinction rather than reflecting discrimination. Ultimately, then, the question is whether the measure is even‐handed. If it is even‐handed, because it does not provide different treatment in fact, then it would not breach Article 2.1.370
320. This interpretation is consistent with the decision in ICS Inspection and Control Services
Limited (United Kingdom) v Argentina, where the Tribunal held:
The treatment identified must be more favourable in a general manner such that the clause performs its purpose of averting distortions in the competition between investors of different provenance. On the other hand, the treatment accorded need not be found to be more favourable under all circumstances.371
321. Examination of the non‐discrimination requirement under MFN requires the main focus
to be objective analysis into the nature of the differential treatment, and whether it can
be justified on objective, rational, non‐national origin based considerations.
322. The NAFTA Chapter 20 Panel in Cross‐border Trucking Services provided the clearest
explanation of Article 1103's identical provisions Article 1202 as protecting expectations
of equal competitive opportunities, and that states could not provide treatment that
failed to accord with that objective. It held "that differential treatment should be no
greater than necessary for legitimate regulatory reasons."372
369 United States ‐ Certain Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Requirements, Reports of the Appellate Body,
WT/DS384/R ‐ WT/DS386/R, AB‐2012‐3 (29 June 2012) ("COOL ‐ AB Report"), at para. 286 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐067)
370 COOL ‐ AB Report, at para. 328 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐067) 371 ICS Inspection and Control Services Limited (United Kingdom) v. The Argentine Republic, PCA Case No. 2010‐09,
Award on Jurisdiction, 10 February 2012 ("ICS Inspection ‐ Jurisdiction") para. 319 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐068)
372 In the Matter of Cross‐Border Trucking Services, NAFTA Secretariat File No. USA‐MEX‐98‐2008‐01, Final Report of the Panel (February 6, 2001) ("Cross‐ Border Trucking ‐ Panel Report"), at para. 258 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐069)
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323. In essence, the MFN Treatment is "essential for ensuring a level playing field between all
trading partners" and is meant "to ensure an equality of competitive conditions
between foreign investors of different nationalities."373
324. And once the Investor has discharged its burden of showing that Mesa and Mesa's
investments are in like circumstances with other investors and investments, and have
prima facie been treated differently, it falls to Canada to justify the differential
treatment on objectively legitimate grounds that bear no nexus to the Investor.
325. It is therefore for Canada to show that the difference in treatment, both its nature and
magnitude, can be fully justified by legitimate regulatory considerations.
326. This is consistent with the practice of NAFTA Tribunals. For example, in Feldman, the
Tribunal held that after the Claimant "made a prima facie case for differential and less
favorable treatment of the Claimant," Mexico "failed to meet its burden of adducing
evidence to show otherwise."374
C. "With Respect to the Establishment, Acquisition, Expansion, Management, Conduct,
Operation, and Sale or Other Disposition of Investments"
327. The treatment in question also needs to be "with respect to the establishment,
acquisition, expansion, management, conduct, operation, and sale or other disposition
of investments."
328. The treatment provided to Mesa was clearly in connection with its operation of its
investment, and it is simply incontrovertible that the "less favorable treatment" Canada
accorded Mesa satisfies this requirement.
373 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), "Most Favoured Nation Treatment" UNCTAD
Series on Issues in International Investment Agreements (New York and Geneva: 1999) ("MFN, UNCTAD (1999)"), at p. 13 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐054)
374 Feldman ‐ Award, at para. 187 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐040)
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IV. INTERNATIONAL LAW STANDARD OF TREATMENT
329. NAFTA Article 1105(1) sets out the international law standard of treatment that a Party
is obliged to accord to investments of investors of another Party:
Each Party shall accord to investments of investors of another Party treatment in accordance with international law, including fair and equitable treatment and full protection and security.
330. The international law standard is a composite standard; it subsumes within it various
duties, including a duty to provide fair and equitable treatment, and a duty to provide
full protection and security.375
331. The express wording of NAFTA Article 1105, "in accordance with international law",
confirms that Canada is obligated to provide investments of foreign investors treatment
that accords with the rules and principles established by the four sources of
international law as enumerated in Article 38 of the Statute of the International Court of
Justice. The meaning of "international law standard" is therefore determined by
reference to customary international law principles and practices, and the many
decisions of international tribunals in respect of the overarching international law
obligation to act in good faith.
332. Article 38(1) of the Statute of the International Court of Justice ("ICJ Statute") sets out
the sources of international law:
a) International conventions;
b) International custom, as evidence of a general practice accepted as law;
c) General principles of law; and
d) Judicial decisions and the teachings of the most highly qualified publicists, as
subsidiary means for the determination of rules of law.
333. The Vienna Convention rules are drafted in mandatory language. Article 31 of the Vienna
Convention requires a treaty to be interpreted "in good faith" and "in accordance with
the ordinary meaning to be given to the terms of the treaty in their context and in light
of its object and purpose". Article 31(2) sets out the context of a treaty as encompassing
the preamble of the treaty, and its annexes.
334. Article 31 of the Vienna Convention requires the interpretation of a treaty to also take
into account:
375 Azurix Corp. v. Argentine Republic, ICSID Case No. ARB/01/12, Award (July 14, 2006) ("Azurix ‐ Award"), at para.
407 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐070); National Grid PLC v. Argentine Republic, Award, 2008 WL 5819369 (November 3, 2008) ("National Grid ‐ Award"), at paras. 187‐189 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐071)
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a) any subsequent agreement regarding the interpretation of a treaty;
b) any subsequent practice in the application of the treaty; and
c) and relevant rules of international law applicable.376
335. Under NAFTA Article 1131(1), the Tribunal is therefore required to apply all the
principles of treaty interpretation, including the rules embodied in Articles 31 and 32 of
the Vienna Convention. NAFTA Article 1131 states:
Governing Law
a) 1. A Tribunal established under this Section shall decide the issues in dispute in
accordance with this Agreement and applicable rules of international law.
A. The Protection of Customary International Law
336. NAFTA Article 1105 sets out a standard of treatment that includes, at a minimum, a
requirement that Canada follow customary international law.
337. By their agreement to be bound by customary international law in NAFTA Article 1105,
the NAFTA Parties accepted and incorporated customary international law into the
NAFTA. The content of the international law standard is not simply a matter of custom.
It entails drawing on tribunal decisions that have addressed the content of the
obligation, which includes custom, and custom that has been similarly incorporated into
other treaties such as Bilateral Investment Treaties.
338. In adopting this approach, the Mondev Tribunal said:
... the question is not that of a failure to show opinio juris or to amass sufficient evidence demonstrating it. The question rather is: what is the content of customary international law providing for fair and equitable treatment and full protection and security in investment treaties?377
339. The Mondev Tribunal went on to say that "the standard of treatment, including fair and
equitable treatment, and full protection and security, is to be found by reference to the
normal sources of international law determining the minimum standard of treatment of
foreigners."378 The Tribunal then drew the content of customary international law from
international decisions, including the NAFTA Azinian decision.379 The subsequent ADF
NAFTA Tribunal specifically endorsed the Mondev Tribunal's holding that the content of
customary international law can be sourced through international tribunal decisions,
376 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969), art. 31(3)(a), (b) and (c) (Investor's Schedule of Legal
Authorities at CL‐011) 377 Mondev – Award, at para. 113 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐034) 378 Mondev – Award, at para. 120 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐034) 379 Mondev – Award, at paras. 126‐ 127 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐034)
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and that it is not necessary to specifically prove the elements of practice and opinio
juris.380
340. International tribunal decisions are therefore a primary source of the content of
customary international law.
341. Tribunals, NAFTA and non‐NAFTA alike, have also recognized that the customary
international law standard has been influenced by the many bilateral investment
treaties obliging states to provide fair and equitable treatment and full protection and
security. The Mondev Tribunal, for example, said:
In holding that Article 1105(1) refers to customary international law, the FTC interpretations incorporate current international law, whose content is shaped by the conclusion of more than two thousand bilateral investment treaties and many treaties of friendship and commerce. Those treaties largely and concordantly provide for ‘fair and equitable' treatment of, and for ‘full protection and security' for, the foreign investor and his investments.381
342. The Mondev Tribunal's comments echo those of the Pope & Talbot NAFTA Tribunal,
which said:
Canada's views on the appropriate standard of customary international law for today were perhaps shaped by its erroneous belief that only some 70 bilateral investment treaties have been negotiated; however, the true number, now acknowledged by Canada, is in excess of 1800. Therefore, applying the ordinary rules for determining the content of custom in international law, one must conclude that the practice of states is now represented by those treaties.382
343. The CMS v. Argentina Tribunal reached a similar conclusion, holding that the customary
international law standard of treatment mandated "fair and equitable treatment", and
"full protection and security." The Tribunal said "... the Treaty standard of fair and
equitable treatment ... is not different from the international law minimum standard
and its evolution under customary law."383
344. Judge Stephen Schwebel, former President of the International Court of Justice, has
expressed the same view, stating that "when BITs prescribe treating the foreign investor
in accordance with customary international law, they should be understood to mean the
380 ADF Group Inc. v. United States, Award, 2003 WL 24083234 (January 9, 2003) ("ADF Group ‐ Award"), at para.
184: "We understand Mondev to be saying ‐ and we would respectfully agree with it ‐ that any general requirement to accord ‘fair and equitable treatment' and ‘full protection and security' must be disciplined by being based upon State practice and judicial or arbitral case law or other sources of customary or general international law." (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐072)
381 Mondev – Award, at para. 125 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐034) 382 Pope & Talbot ‐ Award on Damages", at para. 62 [emphasis added] (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at
CL‐032) 383 CMS Gas Transmission Company v. Argentine Republic, Award, 2005 WL 1201002 (May 12, 2005) ("CMS Gas ‐
Award") para. 284 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐073)
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standard of international law embodied in the terms of some two thousand concordant
BITs."384
B. Fair and Equitable Treatment
i. The Duty to Act in Good Faith
345. The duty to act in good faith is "the" fundamental norm underpinning international legal
responsibility.385 The International Court of Justice acknowledged that the good faith
principle is "one of the basic principles governing the creation and performance of legal
obligations."386 Not surprisingly, the overarching duty of good faith is the touchstone for
much of the content of the international law standard.387
346. Article 26 of the Vienna Convention, entitled "Pacta sunt servanda", provides that
"[e]very treaty in force is binding upon the parties to it and must be performed by them
in good faith."388 The Vienna Convention preamble notes: "that the principles of free
consent and of good faith and the pacta sunt servanda rule are universally recognized",
and Bin Cheng has noted the pacta sunt servanda principle is founded in good faith. He
said that the principle is "but an expression of the principle of good faith which above all
signifies the keeping of faith, the pledged faith of nations, as well as that of
individuals."389
347. The duty of good faith and the duty to provide fair and equitable treatment are inter‐
related as fundamental principles of the international law standard. Dr. Mann describes
it as the pre‐eminent substantive standard in investment treaties:
… it is submitted that the right to fair and equitable treatment goes much further than the right to most‐favored‐nation and to national treatment .... So general a provision is likely to be almost sufficient to cover all conceivable cases, and it may well be that other provisions of the
384 Schwebel S., "Investor‐State Disputes and the Development of International Law: The Influence of Bilateral
Investment Treaties on Customary International Law" in The American Socliety of International Law Proceedings of the 98th Annual Meeting. (Washington: ASIL, 2004) ("Schwebel (2004)"), at pp. 29‐30 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐074)
385 Franck, T. Fairness in International Law and Institutions (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1995), extract ("Franck (1995)") at 42‐43 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐075)
386 Nuclear Tests (Australia v. France), Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1974, 253 ("Nuclear Tests") para. 46 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐076) ("One of the basic principles governing the creation and performance of legal obligations, whatever their source, is the principle of good faith. … Just as the very rule of pacta sunt servanda in the law of treaties is based on good faith, so also is the binding character of an international obligation assumed by unilateral declaration").
387 O'Connor, J. F. Good Faith in International Law (Brookfield: Dartmouth, 1991), extract ("O'Connor (1991)"), at p. 107 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐077)
388 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969) (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐011) 389 Bin Cheng, General Principles of Law as Applied by International Courts and Tribunals (Grotius: Cambridge,
1987) ("Cheng (1987)"), at p. 113 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐078)
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Agreements affording substantive protection are no more than examples of specific instances of this overriding duty.390
348. Investor‐state tribunals have endorsed Dr. Mann's views. The S.D. Myers Tribunal, for
example, said of the fair and equitable treatment standard that:
Article 1105 imports into the NAFTA the international law requirements of due process, economic rights, obligations of good faith and natural justice.391
349. Other tribunals have considered the central principle of good faith in the interpretation
of the fair and equitable treatment standard:
a) The Tecmed Tribunal said that "the commitment of fair and equitable treatment
included in Article 4(1) of the [Spain‐Mexico] Agreement is an expression and part of
the bona fide principle recognized in international law."392
b) The Eureko v. Poland Tribunal endorsed the Tecmed Tribunal's reliance on the good
faith principle in interpreting the obligation to provide fair and equitable
treatment.393
c) The Tribunal in Saluka v. The Czech Republic held that a foreign investor was entitled
to expect that a State:
… implements its policies bona fide by conduct that is, as far as it affects the investor's investment, reasonable justifiable by public policies and that such conduct does not manifestly violate the requirements of consistency, transparency, even‐handedness and non‐discrimination [emphasis added].394
ii. Fairness and Reasonableness
350. NAFTA Article 1105 contains an explicit reference to the "fair and equitable treatment"
standard, and, thereby confirms that treatment must be in accordance with the
requirements of jus aequum – fairness and reasonableness.
390 Mann, F.A. "British Treaties for the Promotion and Protection of Investments", (1981) 52 British Yearbook of
International Law 241 ("Mann (1981)") at p. 243 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐079) 391 S. D. Myers ‐ First Partial Award, at para. 134 [emphasis added] (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at
CL‐033) 392 TECMED – Award, at para. 153 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐035) 393 Eureko B.V. v. Republic of Poland, Partial Award, 2005 WL 2166281 (19 August 2005) ("Eureko ‐ Partial Award"),
at para. 235 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐080): "The Tribunal finds apposite the words of an ICSID Tribunal in a recent decision that the guarantee of fair and equitable treatment according to international law means that: " ... this provision of the Agreement, in light of the good faith principle established by international law, requires the Contracting Parties to provide to international investments treatment that does not affect the basic expectations that were taken into account by the foreign investor to make the investment..." citing TECMED ‐ Award, at para. 154 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐035)
394 Saluka Investments B.V. v. Czech Republic, Partial Award, 2006 WL 1342817 (March 17, 2006) ("Saluka ‐ Award"), at para. 307 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐081)
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351. The principles of fair and equitable treatment have been considered by the Appellate
Body of the World Trade Organization, and the United Nations Human Rights
Committee. The U.N. Human Rights Committee considering application of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, held that for a regulatory scheme
not to be considered arbitrarily imposed, it must be specific, fair and reasonable, and its
application must be transparent.395
352. In the Shrimp –Turtle case, the Appellate Body decided:
For all of the specific reasons outlined in this Report, this measure does not qualify for the exemption that Article XX of the GATT 1994 affords to measures which serve certain recognized, legitimate environmental purposes but which, at the same time, are not applied in a manner that constitutes a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination between countries where the same conditions prevail or a disguised restriction on international trade. As we emphasized in United States – Gasoline, WTO Members are free to adopt their own policies aimed at protecting the environment as long as, in so doing, they fulfill their obligations and respect the rights of other Members under the WTO Agreement.396
The Appellate Body further indicated that if a regulatory measure is applied too rigidly
or inflexibly, that in itself may constitute "arbitrary discrimination".397
353. The broad applicability of the fair and equitable treatment standard has, consequently,
linked the standard with international law principles, and has connected the standard
with other absolute principles, such as Most Favored Nation Treatment, and National
Treatment. In their treatise on bilateral investment treaties, Dolzer and Stevens state
that investment treaties which refer to international law, in addition to the fair and
equitable treatment, "reaffirm that international law standards are consistent with, but
complementary to, the provisions of the [treaty].398
354. The concepts of fairness and equity are at the core of international law. The Permanent
Court of Justice observed that what are "widely known as principles of equity have long
been considered to constitute part of international law, and as such they have often
been applied in international tribunals."399
395 United Nations, Human Rights Committee, Communications No. 633/1995: Canada 05/05/99,
CCPR/C/D/633/1995 ("UNHRC Communications No. 633/1995"), at para. 13.6 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐082)
396 United States‐Import Prohibitions of Certain Shrimp and Shrimp Products (US‐Shrimp), Report of the Appellate Body, WT/DS58/AB/R (October 12, 1998) ("US ‐ Shrimp ‐ AB Report"), at para. 186 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐083)
397 US ‐ Shrimp ‐ AB Report, at paras. 177‐180 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐083) 398 Dolzer, R. & Stevens, M., Bilateral Investment Treaties (London: Martinus Nihoff Publishers, 1995) ("Dolzer
(1995)") at 60 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐084) 399 Diversion of Water from the Meuse Case (Netherlands v. Belgium). [1937], P.C.I.J. (Ser. A/B) No. 70 ("Diversion
of Water"), at p. 321 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐085)
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355. Prof. Kenneth J. Vandevelde, an author of several US Model Bilateral Investment
Treaties which formed the drafting foundation of the NAFTA, wrote a treatise examining
the investment treaty practice of the United States. In relation to NAFTA Article 1105,
Prof. Vandevelde said:
… the standard is breached not only by acts of bad faith, but by any conduct that is not fair and equitable. Even the weakest reading of the terms "fair and equitable would seem to require more than a mere avoidance of outrage and bad faith. In the absence of the reference to fair and equitable treatment, Article 1105 might have been interpreted to prohibit only outrageous conduct.400
356. The Pope & Talbot Tribunal found that the "fair and equitable treatment" standard was
a standard separate to that provided by international law, to be interpreted according
to the ordinary meaning of the words. According to the Pope & Talbot Tribunal, fair and
equitable treatment obliged the NAFTA Parties to provide the international law
standard, as well as to act fairly and equitably.401
357. Prof. Vandevelde notes that the principle of reasonableness "requires that host State
treatment of covered investment be reasonably related to a legitimate public policy
objective".402 The concept of "reasonableness" prescribes that treaty protection of an
Investor's interests will be violated by arbitrary, discriminatory conduct, particularly if it
is motivated by animus against the Investor's investment.403
358. The Tribunal in Genin clarified that "a wilful neglect of duty, an insufficiency of action
falling far below international standards, or even subjective bad faith" is a failure
legitimate regulatory conduct.404 In ADF Group, the NAFTA Tribunal observed that it was
examining the conduct of the host State for actions that are "idiosyncratic or aberrant
and arbitrary" and that are "grossly unfair and unreasonable."405
359. As to the meaning of the "reasonableness" standard, the Tribunal in Saluka Investments
said:
The standard of "reasonableness" has no different meaning in this context than in the context of the "fair and equitable treatment" standard with which it is associated; and the same is true with
400 Kenneth J. Vandevelde, Bilateral Investment Treaties, History, Policy, and Interpretation (Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 2010), extracts ("Vandevelde (2010)"), at p. 193 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐086)
401 Pope & Talbot ‐ Award on Merits of Phase 2, at paras. 111 and 113 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐039)
402 Kenneth J. Vandevelde, "A Unified Theory of Fair and Equitable Treatment", (2010) 43 New York University Journal of International Law and Politics 43 ("Vandevelde I (2010)"), at p. 104 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐088)
403 Vandevelde I (2010), at p. 104 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐088) 404 Alex Genin, Eastern Credit Limited, Inc. and A.S. Baltoil v. Republic of Estonia, Award, 2001 WL 34788584 (June
25, 2001) ("Genin ‐ Award"), at para. 367 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐089) 405 ADF Group ‐ Award, at paras. 188,189 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐072)
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regard to the standard of "non‐discrimination". The standard of "reasonableness" therefore requires, in this context as well, a showing that the State's conduct bears a reasonable relationship to some rational policy, whereas the standard of "non‐discrimination" requires a rational justification of any differential treatment of a foreign investor.406
The Tribunal concluded that in applying the "fair and equitable treatment standard"
under an investment treaty, it would have "due regard to all relevant circumstances" to
protect a foreign investor's interests, because a host State can not act in a way that is
"manifestly inconsistent, non‐transparent, unreasonable (i.e. unrelated to some rational
policy), or discriminatory (i.e. based on unjustifiable distinctions).407
360. As to conduct motivated by anti‐investor animus, the NAFTA Tribunal in Chemtura said
that "thwart[ing] or improperly influenc[ing]" a regulatory review process would violate
the international law standard of treatment under NAFTA Article 1105.408
361. The NAFTA Tribunal in the Waste Management (II) case provided a summary of the
jurisprudence regarding the meaning of fair and equitable treatment:
...fair and equitable treatment is infringed by conduct attributable to the state and harmful to the claimant if the conduct is arbitrary, grossly unfair, unjust or idiosyncratic, is discriminatory and exposes the claimant to sectional or racial prejudice, or involves a lack of due process leading to an outcome that offends judicial propriety ‐ as might be the case with a manifest failure of natural justice in judicial proceedings or a complete lack of transparency and candour in an administrative process. In applying this standard, it is relevant that the treatment is in breach of representations made by the host state which were reasonably relied on by the claimant.409
362. The Biwater Gauff Tribunal considered a dispute arising under the United Kingdom‐
Tanzania BIT. It held that fair and equitable treatment includes the protection of
legitimate expectations, good faith, transparency, consistency and non‐
discrimination.410 The Tribunal outlined the components of the standard of fair and
equitable treatment:411
6. Denial of justice
7. Protection of legitimate expectations, such as the reasonable and legitimate expectations taken into account by the foreign investor to make the investment, and were relied upon by the investor to make the investment.412
406 Saluka ‐ Award, at para. 460 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐081) 407 Saluka ‐ Award,, at para. 309 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐081) 408 Chemtura Corporation v. Government of Canada, Award (August 3, 2010) ("Chemtura ‐ Award"), at para. 160
(Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐090) 409 Waste Management Inc. v. United Mexican States (II) Award, 2004 WL 3249803 (April 30, 2004) ("Waste
Management II ‐ Award"), at para. 98 [emphasis added] (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐091) 410 Biwater Gauff (Tanzania) Ltd. v. United Republic of Tanzania, ICSID Case No. ARB/05/22, Award (July 24, 2008)
("Biwater Gauff ‐ Award"), at para. 602 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐092) 411 Biwater Gauff – Award, at para. 602 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐092) 412 Waste Management II ‐ Award, at para. 305 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐091)
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8. Good faith, which includes the general principle as recognized in international law whereby
all contracting parties must act in good faith, although a violation of this principle would not require bad faith on the part of the State.413
9. Transparency, consistency, non‐discrimination, which implies that the conduct of the State must be transparent,414 consistent415 and non‐discriminatory, that is, "not based on unjustifiable distinctions or arbitrary.416
363. In Rumeli Telekom v. Kazakhstan, the Tribunal observed the parties had agreed that the
fair and equitable treatment standard encompasses certain clear principles:
a) The state must act in a transparent manner;
b) The state is obliged to act in good faith;
c) The state's conduct cannot be arbitrary, grossly unfair, unjust, idiosyncratic,
discriminatory, or lacking in due process;
d) The state must respect procedural propriety and due process.417
364. The Rumeli Tribunal also held that fair and equitable treatment included an obligation
that the State respect the investor's reasonable and legitimate expectations.418
365. International investment tribunals have interpreted the fair and equitable treatment
standard as requiring adherence to five core principles: reasonableness, security,
nondiscrimination, transparency, and due process.419 These five principles have been
interpreted as requiring treatment consistent with the rule of law.420
iii. Treatment Free from Arbitrary Conduct
366. A state breaches customary international law obligations when it acts arbitrarily. A
state, therefore, breaches its customary international law obligation when it acts on
"prejudice or preference rather than on reason or fact."421 As stated by the Tribunal in
413 Waste Management II ‐ Award, at para. 138 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐091); Saluka ‐
Award, at para. 303 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐081) 414 Saluka ‐ Award, at para. 164 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐081); CME Czech Republic B.V. v.
Czech Republic, Final Award, 2003 WL 24070172 (March 14, 2003) ("CME ‐ Award"), at para. 611 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐093); Maffezini – Award, at para. 83 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐058); Metalclad Corporation v. The United Mexican States Award, 2000 WL 34514285 (August 30, 2000) ("Metalclad (2000) ‐ Award ") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐098)
415 Saluka ‐ Award, at para. 164 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐081); CME ‐ Award, at para. 611 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐093)
416 Saluka ‐ Award, at para. 164 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐081); Waste Management II ‐ Award, at para. 98 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐091); CME ‐ Award, at para. 611 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐093)
417 Rumeli – Award, at para. 609 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐064) 418 Rumeli – Award, at para. 609 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐064) 419 Vandevelde I (2010), at p. 105 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐088) 420 Vandevelde I (2010), at p. 105 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐088) 421 Lauder v. Czech Republic, Final Award, 2001 WL 34786000 (3 September 2001) ("Lauder ‐ Final Award") para.
221 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐095)
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the CMS v. Argentina Award, "[t]he standard of protection against arbitrariness … is
related to that of fair and equitable treatment. Any measure that might involve
arbitrariness … is in itself contrary to fair and equitable treatment."422
367. The United States – Panama Claims Commission in the de Sabla case held that a country
fails to accord a minimum standard of treatment to a foreign national where it imposes
a measure affecting private interests that was not transparent or properly
administered.423 Arbitrariness either by design or in application is a hallmark of a
violation of the customary international law standard of treatment owed by countries to
foreign nationals operating within their territory.
368. NAFTA Tribunals have consistently found arbitrary measures to constitute a breach of
the international law standard. The Waste Management (II) NAFTA Tribunal stated:
Taken together, the S.D. Myers, Mondev, ADF and Loewen cases suggest that the minimum standard of treatment of fair and equitable treatment is infringed... if the conduct is arbitrary...424
369. The Metalclad NAFTA Tribunal considered a claim that Mexico breached its fair and
equitable treatment obligation through the actions of one of its municipalities. The
municipality in question was only legally allowed to consider construction issues when
granting or denying building permits. The municipality exceeded that authority when it
refused the investor's permit on environmental grounds.425 In finding that this conduct
amounted to a breach of the fair and equitable treatment standard, the NAFTA Tribunal
said:
None of the reasons [for refusing the permit] included a reference to any problems associated with the physical construction of the landfill or to any physical defects therein. The Tribunal therefore finds that the construction permit was denied without any consideration of, or specific reference to, construction aspects or flaws of the physical facility.426
370. In finding that Mexico breached the international law standard of treatment, the
Metalclad NAFTA Tribunal also held that arbitrary conduct breaches international law
422 CMS Gas ‐ Award, at p. 290 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐073) 423 Marguerite de Joly, at pp. 362‐363 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐097) 424 Waste Management II ‐ Award, at para. 98 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐091) 425 The Metalclad tribunal said at para. 86: "Even if Mexico is correct that a municipal construction permit was
required, the evidence also shows that, as to hazardous waste evaluations and assessments, the federal authority's jurisdiction was controlling and the authority of the municipality only extended to appropriate construction considerations. Consequently, the denial of the permit by the Municipality by reference to environmental impact considerations in the case of what was basically a hazardous waste disposal landfill, was improper, as was the municipality's denial of the permit for any reason other than those related to the physical construction or defects in the site." Metalclad (2000) ‐ Award, (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐098)
426 Metalclad (2000) ‐ Award, at paras. 92, 93 [emphasis added] (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐098)
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obligations when the conduct is based on improper or irrelevant considerations.427 For
example, the Tribunal noted that "the construction permit was denied without any
consideration of, or specific reference to, construction aspects or flaws of the physical
facility."428 With respect to irrelevant considerations, the Metalclad NAFTA Tribunal
held:
... the authority of the municipality only extended to appropriate construction considerations. Consequently, the denial of the permit by the Municipality by reference to environmental impact considerations ... was improper, as was the municipality's denial of the permit for any reason other than those related to the physical construction or defects in the site.429
The NAFTA Tribunal went on to conclude that "Metalclad was not treated fairly or
equitably under the NAFTA and succeeds on its claim under Article 1105."430
371. The S.D. Myers NAFTA Tribunal found that a violation of Article 1105 occurs "when it is
shown that an investor has been treated in such an unjust or arbitrary manner that the
treatment rises to the level that is unacceptable from the international perspective."431
The Award in S.D. Myers indicated:
In some cases, the breach of international law by a host Party may not be decisive in determining that a foreign investor has been denied ‘fair and equitable treatment', but the fact that a host Party has breached a rule of international law that is specifically designed to protect investors will tend to weigh heavily in favor of finding a breach of Article 1105 [emphasis in original].432
372. Other investor‐state tribunals have similarly concluded that a state acts arbitrarily when
it proceeds on the basis of prejudice or preference, and not on reason or fact:
a) In Lauder v. Czech Republic, for example, the ICSID Tribunal found an arbitrary
measure to be something founded on prejudice or preference rather than reason or
fact. 433 The Tribunal held:
... The measure was arbitrary because it was not founded on reason or fact, nor on the law ... but on mere fear reflecting national preference.434
b) The Pope & Talbot NAFTA Tribunal also found Canada breached the international
law standard by acting on prejudice rather than on reason or fact. Canada breached
the obligation by threatening the investor, denying its "reasonable requests for
427 Metalclad (2000) ‐ Award, at para. 86 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐098) 428 Metalclad (2000) ‐ Award, at para. 93 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐098) 429 Metalclad (2000) ‐ Award, at paras. 86 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐098) 430 Metalclad (2000) ‐ Award, at para. 101 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐098) 431 S. D. Myers ‐ First Partial Award, at para. 263 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐033) 432 S. D. Myers ‐ First Partial Award, at para. 264 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐033) 433 Lauder ‐ Final Award, at paras. 232 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐095), at para. 221 the
Tribunal said: "The Treaty does not define an arbitrary measure. According to Black's Law Dictionary, arbitrary means ‘depending on individual discretion; ... founded on prejudice or preference rather than on reason or fact'...."
434 Lauder ‐ Final Award, at paras. 232 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐095)
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pertinent information" and requiring the investor "to incur unnecessary expense and
disruption in meeting SLD's requests for information."435
c) In finding that Poland failed to provide fair and equitable treatment, the Tribunal for
the Eureko B.V. v. Republic of Poland case, said Poland "acted not for cause but for
purely arbitrary reasons ..."436
d) The Occidental Tribunal also found that Ecuador breached its obligation to provide
fair and equitable treatment by acting in an arbitrary manner.437
e) As observed by the CMS Gas Tribunal "[a]ny measure that might involve
arbitrariness ... is in itself contrary to fair and equitable treatment."438
f) The Tribunal in National Grid v. Argentina held that the words "arbitrary" and
"unreasonable" are coterminous, and that they mean "something done capriciously,
without reason."439
These cases demonstrate comprehensive agreement among tribunals that the fair and
equitable treatment obligation includes an independent obligation not to act arbitrarily
against investors from other NAFTA parties.
373. As to the factors that may constitute arbitrary action, the Tribunal in Genin observed
that a violation of the investment treaty would occur when any procedural irregularity
amounted to bad faith, a wilful disregard of due process of law or an extreme
insufficiency of action.440
374. The NAFTA Tribunal in Metalclad held that the denial of a construction permit to the
Investor was a breach of the fair and equitable treatment standard, because the "permit
was denied at a meeting of the Municipal Town Council of which Metalclad had received
no notice, to which it received no invitation, and at which it was given no opportunity to
appear."441
435 Pope & Talbot, Award on Merits of Phase 2, at paras. 177‐181 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at
CL‐039) 436 Eureko ‐ Partial Award, at para. 233 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐080) 437 Occidental ‐ Final Award, at para. 163 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐027), finding that "the
investor: ... was confronted with a variety of practices, regulations and rules dealing with the question of VAT. ... this resulted in a confusing situation ... it is that very confusion and lack of clarity that resulted in some form of arbitrariness ..." See also International Thunderbird Gaming Corporation v. United Mexican State, Award, 2006 WL 247692 (January 26, 2006) ("Thunderbird v. Mexico ‐ Award") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐194); Metalclad (2000) ‐ Award, at para. 99 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐098); CMS Gas ‐ Award, at para. 290 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐073); TECMED ‐ Award, at para. 154 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐035)
438 CMS Gas ‐ Award, at para. 290 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐073) 439 National Grid ‐ Award, at para. 197 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐071) 440 Genin ‐ Award, at para. 371 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐089) 441 Metalclad (2000) ‐ Award, at para. 88 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐098)
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iv. Transparency
375. "Transparency is considered to enhance the predictability and stability of the
investment relationship and thus to represent an incentive for the promotion of
investment".442 Chapter 18 of the NAFTA is largely dedicated to the importance of
transparency. The fair and equitable treatment standard also requires that Canada
provide investors with a transparent and fair business environment. The NAFTA Tribunal
in Metalclad defined the host State's obligation for transparency as including:
… all relevant legal requirements for the purpose of initiating, completing and successfully operating investments made, or intended to be made, under the Agreement should be capable of being readily known to all affected investors of another Party. There should be no room for doubt or uncertainty on such matters.443
376. Correspondingly, the customary international law standard is also breached where a
party acts without transparency. As stated by the NAFTA Tribunal in Waste
Management (II), the "minimum standard of treatment of fair and equitable treatment
is infringed ... if the conduct ... involves a lack of due process leading to an outcome
which offends judicial propriety – as might be the case with ... a complete lack of
transparency and candour in an administrative process."444
377. The duty of transparency is a broad one, described by Martins Paparinskis as conduct
which is "in apparent breach of domestic law, or justified only by sparse reasoning and
sometimes addressing the choice of different means, matters may be reasonably
expected or procedural improprieties."445 Mr. Paparinskis summaries the test as the
investor needs to be provided with "sufficient accessibility in light of local practices,
where the investor has relied on competent assistance."446
378. Roland Kläger also undertook a significant analysis of transparency obligations under
international law, and considers the "notion of transparency in this context is concerned
442 Roland Kläger, Fair and Equitable Treatment in International Investment Law (New York: Cambridge University
Press, 2011), at p. 228 ("Klager (2011)") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐101) 443 Metalclad (2000) ‐ Award, at para. 76 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐098) This transparency
obligation was vacated by a reviewing domestic law court which held that transparency was not an independent ground of the international law standard of treatment.
444 Waste Management II ‐ Award, at para. 98 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐091) 445 Martins Paparinskis, The International Minimum Standard of Treatment and Equitable Treatment (Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 2013) ("Paparinskis (2013)"), at p. 248 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐103) citing Maffezini – Award, at para. 83 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐058); Rumeli – Award, at para. 617 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐064); Vivendi v. Argentina, at para. 7.4.31 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐059); TECMED ‐ Award, at para. 154 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐035); Saluka ‐ Award, at para. 348‐407 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐081); and PSEG Global Inc. and Konya Ilgin Elektrik Uretim ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi v. Republic of Turkey, ICSID No. ARB/02/5, Award (January 19, 2007) ("PSEG Global v. Turkey ‐ Award") para. 264 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐102)
446 Paparinskis (2013), at p. 249 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐103)
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with the openness and clarity of the host state's legal regime and procedures".447 This is
not surprising as a "number of international investment agreements have expressly
incorporated transparency obligations" into investment treaties.448
v. Protection Against Abuse of Rights
379. Canada has an obligation within the international law standard of treatment to protect
against the abuse of rights which harm the investments of foreign investors. The Azinian
NAFTA decision449 and the writings of eminent scholars such as Prof. Bin Cheng450 and Sir
Hersch Lauterpacht,451 consider this requirement to be a standalone obligation under
customary international law.
380. In his treatise about the central role of general principles of law the international law
standard, Professor Bin Cheng has explained that the obligation to act in good faith
includes an obligation on the state not to abuse its power. He wrote:
The principle of good faith requires that every right be exercised honestly and loyally. Any fictitious exercise of a right for the purpose of evading either a rule of law or a contractual obligation will not be tolerated. Such an exercise constitutes an abuse of the right, prohibited by law. 452
He further explained that:
"the theory of abuse of rights (abus de droit), recognised in principle both by the Permanent Court of International Justice and the International Court of Justice is merely an application of this principle [of good faith] to the exercise of rights."453
381. This long‐standing principle also applies to abuses of administrative and regulatory
mandate. In the Bering Fur Seals case, the Tribunal accepted that the malicious exercise
of a right was an abuse of a state's authority.454
447 Klager (2011), at p. 228 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐101) 448 Klager (2011), at p. 229 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐101) 449 Azinian, Davitian, & Baca v. United Mexican States, ICSID Case No. ARB (AF)/97/2), Award (November 1, 1999)
("Azinian v. Mexico ‐ Award") para. 103 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐104) 450 Cheng (1987), at p. 123 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐078) 451 H. Lauterpacht, The Function of Law in the International Community (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1933)
("Lauterpacht (1933)"), at p. 289 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐105) 452 Marion Panizzon, Good Faith in the Jurisprudence of the WTO: The Protection of Legitimate Expectations, Good
Faith Interpretation and Fair Dispute Settlement (Portland: Hart Publishing, 2006), at p. 31 ("Panizzon (2006)") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐106), referencing Cheng (1987), at pp. 123‐32 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐078)
453 Cheng (1987), at p. 121 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐078) 454 Cheng (1987), at pp. 121‐122 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐078), citing Award between the
United States and the United Kingdom relating to the rights of jurisdiction of United States in the Bering's sea and the preservation of fur seals, Decision of 15 August 1893 ("Bering Sea") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐107)
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382. In considering similar early developments of the law, Sir Hercsh Lauterpacht related the
concept of abuse of rights to the flexible evolution of international law.455 He
demonstrates that the principle allows for international tribunals to ensure that the
actions of states are judged in accordance with modern views of morality.456
383. In the context of the international law standard of treatment, the abuse of rights arises
in three principal ways:
a) A state exercises powers in such a way as to hinder an investor in the enjoyment of
its rights, resulting in injury to the investor;
b) A fictitious exercise of a right; or
c) An abuse of discretion in the exercise of governmental power. 457
384. Alexandre Kiss in his article on Abuse of Rights in the Encyclopedia of Public
International Law concludes that no proof of intention to cause harm is necessary
where there is an abuse of discretion, in the exercise of governmental power.458
However, such intent is necessary when looking at the fictitious exercise of a right (such
as where a right is exercised intentionally for an end that is different from that for which
that right was created). 459
385. The Azinian Award confirmed how protection against the abuse of power was contained
the international law standard guaranteed by NAFTA Article 1105:
There is a fourth type of denial of justice, namely clear and malicious misapplication of the law. This type of wrong doubtless overlaps with the notion of "pretence of form" to mask a violation of international law.460
386. Abuses of administrative decision‐making will therefore violate the "fair and equitable
treatment" standard. In his Separate Opinion for Impregilo v Argentina, Judge Charles N.
Brower described actions by Argentina as "nothing less than deliberate abuse of
administrative power with a political motive."461 He described a "behavioral pattern": a
455 Lauterpacht (1933), at p. 287 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐105) 456 Lauterpacht (1933), at p. 287 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐105) 457 Panizzon (2006), at p. 30 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐106) 458 Alexandre Kiss, "Abuse of Rights", Max Plank Encyclopedia of Public International Law (vol 1). (Oxford: Oxford
University Press, 1992) ("Kiss (1992)"), at pars 5‐6 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐108) 459 Free Zones of Upper Savoy and the District of Gex (France v. Switzerland), P.C.I.J., Judgment, (June 7, 1932)
("Free Zones") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐109) Cheng (1987), at p. 123 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐078)
460 Azinian v. Mexico – Award, at para. 103 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐104) 461 Separate Opinion of Judge Charles N. Brower, Impregilo S.p.A. v. Argentine Republic, ICSID Case No. ARB/07/17,
(June 21, 2011) ("Impregilo ‐ Separate Opinion of Judge Brower"), at paras. 12‐15 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐110) Judge Charles N. Brower concurred with the majority of the Tribunal that had accepted Impregilo's arguments on "fair and equitable treatment". However, he disagreed with the deferential attitude
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series of unreasonable legislative and regulatory burdens, delays, unduly extensive
information requests and cost‐raising tactics on the part of the Province of Buenos Aires
– acts that transcended mere "contractual violations" and constituted substantial and
undue interference with the investment.462
387. In another example, the Tribunal in PSEG Global, Inc. v. Turkey observed that the fair
and equitable treatment was essential to according a stable and predictable legal
framework. As such, the fair and equitable treatment obligation was breached by abuse
of authority and by delivery of inconsistent administrative acts.463
vi. Procedural Fairness
388. In Lauder, the Tribunal observed that the obligation to provide full security and
protection extends beyond physical security to ensure that the "judicial system has
remained fully available to the claimant."464 The obligation to provide procedural
fairness requires a State to act in a manner that is in accordance with its obligation of
good faith as secured by treaty protections or general international law. The Appellate
Body in Thailand‐Cigarettes recently elaborated on the importance of due process in
procedures adopted by an administrative panel:
Due process is a fundamental principle of WTO dispute settlement. It informs and finds reflection in the provisions of the DSU. In conducting an objective assessment of a matter, a panel is "bound to ensure that due process is respected". Due process is intrinsically connected to notions of fairness, impartiality, and the rights of parties to be heard and to be afforded an adequate opportunity to pursue their claims, make out their defences, and establish the facts in the context of proceedings conducted in a balanced and orderly manner, according to established rules.465
389. A number of tribunals have focused on whether in the "totality of the circumstances",
the host State provided an "orderly process and timely disposition" and a "transparent
towards government actions, which he believed constituted further violations of Argentina's "fair and equitable treatment" obligations under the treaty.
462 Impregilo ‐ Separate Opinion of Judge Brower, at para. 12‐14, 15 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐110): Judge Brower further described events that "fit into the pattern of the Province [of Buenos Aires] disruptive actions", and emphasized how a "series of steps" can culminate into a breach of the "fair and equitable treatment" standard.
463 PSEG Global v. Turkey – Award, at paras. 247‐248 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐102) 464 Lauder ‐ Final Award, at para. 314 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐095) 465 Thailand ‐ Customs and Fiscal Measures on Cigarettes from the Philippines, Report of the Appellate Body,
WT/DS371/AB/R (17 June 2011) ("Thailand ‐ Cigarettes ‐ AB Report"), at para. 147 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐111) The Appellate Body has held that "the protection of due process is an essential feature of a rules‐based system of adjudication, such as that established under the DSU", and that "due process is fundamental to ensuring a fair and orderly conduct of dispute settlement proceedings". (Appellate Body Reports, Canada – Continued Suspension / US – Continued Suspension, at para. 433; and Appellate Body Report, Thailand – H‐Beams, at para. 88, respectively).
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and predictable framework" for an investor's business planning and investment,
thereby, treating the investor "fairly and justly in accordance with the NAFTA."466
390. The Methanex NAFTA Tribunal implicitly recognized that NAFTA Article 1105(1) includes
due process by concluding that "[i]f Article 1105(1) had already included a non‐
discrimination requirement, there would be no need to insert that requirement in
Article 1110(1)(b), for it would already have been included in the incorporation of
Article 1105(1)'s due process requirement."467
391. The Tribunal in Genin observed that a violation of the investment treaty would occur
when any procedural irregularity present amounted to bad faith, a wilful disregard of
due process of law, or an extreme insufficiency of action.468
392. The NAFTA Tribunal in Metalclad considered whether the denial of a construction
permit to the Investor was a breach of the fair and equitable treatment standard. The
Tribunal observed that the "permit was denied at a meeting of the Municipal Town
Council of which Metalclad had received no notice, to which it received no invitation,
and at which it was given no opportunity to appear",469 and noted that, beyond that
requirement of transparency, the "absence of any established practice or procedure as
to the manner of handling applications for a municipal construction permit" contributed
to its reasons for finding a breach of NAFTA Article 1105(1).470
393. The customary international law standard is also breached where a party acts without
transparency. As noted by the NAFTA Tribunal in Waste Management (II), the
"minimum standard of treatment of fair and equitable treatment is infringed ... if the
conduct ... involves a lack of due process leading to an outcome which offends judicial
propriety – as might be the case with ... a complete lack of transparency and candour in
an administrative process."471
394. The NAFTA Tribunal in Metalclad defined the host State's obligation for transparency as
including:
… all relevant legal requirements for the purpose of initiating, completing and successfully operating investments made, or intended to be made, under the Agreement should be capable
466 Metalclad (2000) ‐ Award, at para. 99 [emphasis added] (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐098) 467 Methanex ‐ Award on Jurisdiction, at para. 15 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐022); Tudor, I., The
Fair and Equitable Treatment Standard in the International Law of Foreign Investment (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008), extract ("Tudor (2008)"), at p. 178 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐112)
468 Genin ‐ Award, at para. 371 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐089) 469 Metalclad (2000) ‐ Award, at para. 91 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐098) 470 Metalclad (2000) ‐ Award, at para. 88 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐098) 471 Waste Management II ‐ Award, at para. 98. (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐091)
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of being readily known to all affected investors of another Party. There should be no room for doubt or uncertainty on such matters.472
vii. Legitimate Expectations
395. The fair and equitable treatment obligation includes the obligation to protect legitimate
expectations. Numerous tribunals interpreting modern investment treaties have
affirmed that a state fails to meet the international law standard of treatment when it
fails to fulfil the legitimate expectations of investors.473
396. For example, the Tecmed Tribunal explained that an investor can legitimately expect the
host State to act consistently, free from ambiguity and transparently under international
law.474
397. In Tecmed, the Tribunal observed that the "fair expectations of the Claimant were that
the Mexican laws applicable to such investment, as well as the supervision, control,
prevention and punitive powers granted to the authorities in charge of managing such
system, would be used for the purpose of assuring compliance with environmental
protection, human health and ecological balance goals underlying such laws."475 The
Tribunal noted the evidence revealed "inconsistencies" between this stated purpose
and the governmental authority's actions,476 and conclude the government's decision to
not renew the investor's permit was "actually used to permanently close down a site
whose operation had become a nuisance due to political reasons relating to the
community's opposition expressed in a variety of forms…".
398. Interference with the regulatory process that is motivated by the "social and political"
pressures was held to be inconsistent with the obligation to provide fair and equitable
treatment under the treaty, and was also "objectionable from the perspective of
international law."477 The Tecmed Tribunal said:
... in light of the good faith principle established by international law, requires the Contracting Parties to provide to international investments treatment that does not affect the basic expectations that were taken into account by the foreign investor to make the investment.478
472 Metalclad (2000) ‐ Award, at para. 76 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐098) This transparency
obligation was vacated by a reviewing domestic law court which held that transparency was not an independent ground of the international law standard of treatment.
473 TECMED ‐ Award (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐035), Metalclad (2000) ‐ Award, (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐098), MTD Equity – Award (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐060; Occidental ‐ Final Award (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐027) and CMS Gas ‐ Award (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐073)
474 TECMED ‐ Award, at para. 154 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐035) 475 TECMED ‐ Award, at para. 157 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐035) 476 TECMED ‐ Award, at para. 163 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐035) 477 TECMED ‐ Award, at para. 163 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐035) 478 TECMED ‐ Award, at para. 154 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐035)
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The Tecmed Tribunal also noted that legitimate expectations included the expectation
that the state will conduct itself in a coherent manner, without ambiguity, and
transparently, so as to enable the investor to plan its activities, and to adjust its conduct
to the governing statutes, regulations, policies and administrative directions.479
399. The Metalclad NAFTA Tribunal similarly held that Mexico failed to fulfil its obligation
because it acted contrary to Metalclad's legitimate expectations:
Mexico failed to ensure a transparent and predictable framework for Metalclad's business planning and investment. The totality of these circumstances demonstrates a lack of orderly process and timely disposition in relation to an investor of a Party acting in the expectation that it would be treated fairly and justly in accordance with the NAFTA.480
400. Recent investor‐state arbitration tribunal decisions are to the same effect. In MTD v.
Chile, after expressly adopting the Tecmed standard, the Tribunal found that Chile failed
to meet that standard by "authorizing an investment that could not take place for
reasons of its urban policy."481
401. Similarly, the Occidental v. Ecuador Tribunal found that, after Occidental had made
investments, Ecuador changed its tax law "without providing any clarity about its
meaning and extent" and that the state's "practice and regulations were also
inconsistent with [the] changes [to the law]."482 The Tribunal concluded these actions
fell below the standard established in the Tecmed case, and accordingly found a breach
of the BIT. The Occidental Tribunal thereby also recognized a state may breach its
obligation to treat an investor fairly and equitably by failing to follow its own laws.
viii. Treatment Free from Political Motivation
402. Conduct motivated by political animus will also violate the reasonableness principle
contained in the obligation to provide fair and equitable treatment. For example, in
Eureko v. Poland, the Tribunal found that Poland violated the fair and equitable
treatment standard under the Netherlands‐Poland bilateral investment treaty, because
Poland refused to honor its commitment for "purely arbitrary reasons linked to the
interplay of Polish politics and nationalistic reasons of a discriminatory character."483
479 TECMED ‐ Award, at para. 154 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐035) 480 Metalclad (2000) ‐ Award, at para. 99 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐098) The Metalclad Award
was subsequently partially set aside by the Supreme Court of British Columbia NAFTA Chapter 18 exhaustively addressed transparency within the NAFTA. However, only the Tribunal's incorporation of transparency in the international standard of treatment was set aside. The United Mexican States v. Metalclad Corporation, Award, 2001 WL 34786543 (May 2, 2001) ("Metalclad (2001) ‐ Award"), at para. 99 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐113) Their remaining comments on the standard were not questioned.
481 MTD Equity – Award, at paras. 114‐ 115, 188 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐060) 482 Occidental ‐ Final Award, at para. 184 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐027) 483 Eureko ‐ Partial Award, at para. 233 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐080)
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403. The NAFTA Tribunal in Loewen observed that the trial court "permitted the jury to be
influenced by persistent appeals to local favoritism as against a foreign litigant."484 The
NAFTA Tribunal then held that the lower court jury trial was "improper and discreditable
and cannot be squared with minimum standards of international law and fair and
equitable treatment."485
404. Prof. Kenneth Vandevelde has observed that "[t]ribunals have found violations of the
reasonableness principle where the host state's conduct was politically motivated; that
is, where government action was not motivated by legitimate public policy
considerations, but by animus toward the investment or investor."486
405. The Biwater Gauff case involved a dispute about contractual performance under a water
and sewage services contract for the city of Dar es Salaam. The Minister of Water and
Livestock Development was campaigning at the time for the office of prime minister,
and called a press conference terminating the investment's contract. Four days after this
announcement, the Minister confirmed the termination at a political rally. The Tribunal
held that these actions were "an unreasonable disruption of the contractual
mechanisms … and motivated by political considerations."487 The Tribunal observed that
the public statements constituted "an unwarranted interference" which "inflamed the
situation, and polarised public opinion still further", thereby ensuring that the process
could not follow a normal contractual course.488 The Tribunal found this political action
to violate the fair and equitable treatment standard.489
406. The Biwater Gauff Tribunal concluded:
In the Arbitral Tribunal's view, as a matter of principle, the failure to put in place an independent, impartial regulator, insulated from political influence, constitutes a breach of the fair and equitable treatment standard, in that it represents a departure from BGT's legitimate expectation that an impartial regulator would be established to oversee relations between City Water and DAWASA.490
ix. Treatment Free from Discriminatory Conduct
407. The Tribunal in LG&E found that the obligation not to discriminate against foreign
investors, in the context of investment treaties, is such that "a measure is considered
484 Loewen Group, Inc. and Raymond L. Loewen v. United States of America, ICSID Case No. ARB(AF)/98/3, Award
(June 26, 2003) ("Loewen"), at para. 136 [emphasis added] (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐121) 485 Loewen, at para. 137 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐121) 486 Vandevelde I (2010), at p. 59 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐088) 487 Biwater Gauff ‐ Award, at para. 500 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐092) 488 Biwater Gauff ‐ Award, at para. 627 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐092) 489 Biwater Gauff ‐ Award, at para. 628 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐092) 490 Biwater Gauff ‐ Award, at para. 615 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐092)
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discriminatory if the intent of the measure is to discriminate or if the measure has a
discriminatory effect".491
408. As stated by the Chamber of the International Court of Justice in the ELSI case, a
measure is discriminatory, if there is:
a) An intentional treatment
b) In favor of a national
c) Against a foreign investor
d) That is not taken under similar circumstances against another national.492
409. The Tribunal in Lauder held that the fair and equitable treatment standard will "prevent
discrimination against the beneficiary of the standard, where discrimination would
amount to unfairness or inequity in the circumstances".493 And, Iona Tudor has
observed that "a discriminatory treatment would be sufficient to find a breach of [fair
and equitable treatment]."494
410. NAFTA Tribunals have held that NAFTA Article 1105 extends to discrimination. In
Loewen, the NAFTA Tribunal recognized the principle of non‐discrimination495 and held
that under NAFTA Article 1105, the United States has a duty to provide a fair trial, free
of sectional or local prejudice.496 The NAFTA Tribunal said:
It is the responsibility of the State under international law and, consequently, of the courts of a State to provide a fair trial of a case to which a foreign investor is a party. It is the responsibility of the courts of a State to ensure that litigation is free from discrimination against a foreign litigant and that the foreign litigant should not become the victim of sectional or local prejudice.497
491 LG&E Energy Corp., LG&E Capital Corp., and LG&E International, Inc. v. Argentine Republic, Decision on Liability,
2006 WL 2985837 (October 3, 2006) ("LG & E ‐ Decision on Liability") para. 146 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐117)
492 Elettronica Sicula S.p.A. (ELSI), (United States of America v. Italy), Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1989 (20 July 1989) ("Elettronica") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐100)
493 Lauder ‐ Final Award, at para. 292 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐095) (citing United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), "Fair and Equitable Treatment" UNCTAD Series on Issues in International Investment Agreements (New York and Geneva: 1999) ("MFN, UNCTAD (1999)"), at p. 16 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐197)
494 Tudor (2008), at p. 178 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐112); Iurii Bogdanov, Agurdino‐Invest Ltd., Agurdino‐Chimia and JSC v Republic of Moldova, Award, 2004 WL 235957 (September 22, 2005) ("Iurii Bogdanov ‐ Award"), at p. 16 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐120)
495 Vandevelde (2010), at p. 393 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐086) 496 Loewen, at para. 123 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐121) 497 Loewen, at para. 123 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐121)
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411. In evaluating fair and equitable treatment, the NAFTA Tribunal in Waste Management II
adopted the test from Loewen, and referred to a customary law prohibition on conduct
that "is discriminatory and exposes the claimant to sectional or racial prejudice".498
412. In his treatise about the meaning of the international standard of treatment, Martins
Paparinskis says that non‐discrimination is an essential element of the classical
international law meaning of the international law standard:
In the classical international law, the obligation to treat persons and property of aliens in a non‐discriminatory manner was well‐established......, the historical narrative, starting from the prominent prohibitions of discriminatory administration of justice in particular and the discriminatory conduct in general, suggests that when new rules are developed, they go with, rather than against, the grain of non‐discrimination. There are no obvious examples of other customary rules on the treatment of aliens that would permit discrimination. If non‐discrimination is accepted as constituting a non‐exhaustive core of the international standard of the first half of the twentieth century, the proper question to ask is whether subsequent practice and opinio juris in favour of lawfulness of discriminatory conduct have changed the rule.499
C. The Law of Full Protection and Security
413. The requirement of "full protection and security" is specifically expressed as a
constituent part of the International Law Standard of Treatment in NAFTA Article 1105.
Full protection and security is commonly incorporated in investment treaties. It requires
a host country to exercise reasonable care to protect investments against injury by
private parties.500 This obligation requires the host country to do so with the level of
"diligence" required by customary international law. In determining whether the host‐
state has accorded the appropriate level of diligence, international tribunals have
historically taken into account several factors:
a) whether the facts at issue were either publicly known, or had been brought to the
attention of the authorities;501
b) whether the host state conducted investigations in response to complaints by the
foreign claimant;502
498 Waste Management II ‐ Award, at para. 98 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐091) 499 Paparinskis (2013), at p. 246 (footnotes omitted) (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐103) 500 UNCTAD, "Bilateral Investment Treaties in the Mid‐1990s" (New York: United Nations, 1998) ("UNCTAD ‐
Bilateral Investment Treaties") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐122) 501 See Mexico City Bombardment Cases, British‐Mexican Claims Commission, (1930) 5 RIAA 80 ("Bombardment
Cases") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐123); George Adams Kennedy (U.S.A.) v. United Mexican States,US‐Mexico Claims Commission, (1927) 4 RIAA 194 ("Kennedy") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐124)
502 Too v. Greater Modesto Insurance Associates and the United States of America, US‐Iran Claims Tribunal, Award No. 460‐880‐2 (29 December 1989) ("Too") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐125)
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c) whether the host state took adequate steps to apprehend a wrongdoer, or
otherwise adequately enforce a penalty;503
d) whether the standard of police protection for foreign nationals was less than what is
provided generally for a State's own nationals;504 and
e) whether the nearest civil or military authority was far away from the site of the
crime.505
414. The very first ICSID investment treaty award in Asian Agricultural Products Ltd. v. Sri
Lanka506 considered the meaning of the "full protection and security" obligation with
respect to a shrimp farm that was destroyed during an armed conflict between the
government and rebel forces. The Tribunal held Sri Lanka liable for the failure of its
security officials to inform the Claimant's management that they were about to conduct
a dangerous counter‐insurgency operation. Had Sri Lanka done so, the deaths of several
of the Claimants' employees could have been avoided, along with related property
damage.
415. The Asian Agricultural Products Tribunal described the diligence standard that a host
government is required to meet:
The "due diligence" is nothing more nor less than the reasonable measures of prevention which a well‐administered government could be expected to exercise under similar circumstances ...507
Liability is established by the "mere lack or want of diligence, without any need to
establish malice or negligence."508
416. In American Manufacturing & Trading v. Republic of Zaire the Tribunal expounded on
the content of the duty of a host state, and held that the full protection and security
obligation was an "obligation of vigilance":
503 Fransico Mallén (United Mexican States) v. United States of America, US‐Mexico Claims Commission, (1927) 4
RIAA 173 ("Mallén") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐126); Thomas H. Youmans (U.S.A.) v. United Mexican States, 4 RIAA 110 (23 November 1926) ("Youmans") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐127); S.J. Stallings (U.S.A.) v. United Mexican States, 4 RIAA 478 (22 April 1929) ("Stallings") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐128); Richard A. Newman (U.S.A.) v. United Mexican States, 4 RIAA 518 (6 May 1929) ("Newman") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐129); Sarah Ann Gorham (U.S.A.) v. United Mexican States, 4 RIAA 640 (24 October 1930) ("Gorham") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐130); Norman T. Connolly and Myrtle H. Connolly (U.S.A.) v. United Mexican States, 4 RIAA 387 (15 October 1928) ("Connolly") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐131); Lillian Greenlaw Sewell, In Her Own Right and As Guardian of Vernon Monroe Greenlaw, a Minor (U.S.A.) v. United Mexican States, 4 RIAA 626 (24 October 1930) ("Sewell") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐132)
504 Too, at para. 22 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐125) 505 J.J. Boyd (U.S.A.) v. United Mexican States, US‐Mexico Claims Commission, (1928) 4 RIAA 380 ("J.J. Boyd")
(Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐133) 506 Asian Agricultural Products – Award, at para. 50 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐055) 507 Asian Agricultural Products – Award, at para. 77 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐055) 508 Asian Agricultural Products – Award, at para. 77 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐055)
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[the Host State] as the receiving State of investments made by [the Investor], shall take all measures necessary to ensure the full enjoyment of protection and security of [the Investment] and should not be permitted to invoke its own legislation to detract from any such obligation.509
417. Recent tribunals have found that the obligation to provide full protection and security
includes an obligation on governments to provide a stable legal and business
environment to foreign investors. For example, the Azurix v. Argentina Tribunal noted
that the obligation to provide full protection and security includes an obligation to
provide a "secure investment environment".510
418. In Wena Hotels v. Egypt, the Tribunal considered several factors to determine whether
there had been a breach of the diligence standard resulted in liability:
a) the delay on the part of the authorities to go to the investment to investigate;
b) the failure to take any immediate act of protection;
c) the delay in returning the investment to the investor;
d) the damage to, and deterioration of, the investment;
e) the failure of the Host State to provide compensation; and
f) the lack of serious punishment to the perpetrators.511
419. Repetitive nature failure to protect is also relevant. In Eureko B.V. v. Republic of Poland,
the Tribunal concluded, with respect to the full protection and security obligation, that if
harassment was "repeated and sustained, it may be that the responsibility of the [Host
State] would be incurred by a failure to prevent them."512
420. The level of due diligence required of the NAFTA state may also correlate with the
resources of the NAFTA state. In the Pantechniki v. Albania case, Jan Paulsson, the sole
arbitrator, noted that the host State's responsibility to the investor and its investments
509 American Manufacturing and Trading, Inc. v. Zaire, Merits Award, 1997 WL 33804538 (February 21, 1997)
("American Manufacturing ‐ Merits Award"), at para. 6.05 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐135) 510 Azurix ‐ Award, at para. 408 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐070): "The cases referred to above
show that full protection and security was understood to go beyond protection and security ensured by the police. It is not only a matter of physical security; the stability afforded by a secure investment environment is as important from an investor's point of view. The Tribunal is aware that in recent free trade agreements signed by the United States, for instance, with Uruguay, full protection and security is understood to be limited to the level of police protection required under customary international law. However, when the terms ‘protection and security' are qualified by ‘full' and no other adjective or explanation, they extend, in their ordinary meaning, the content of this standard beyond physical security. To conclude, the Tribunal, having held that the Respondent failed to provide fair and equitable treatment to the investment, finds that the Respondent also breached the standard of full protection and security under the BIT." See para. 375 for the Tribunal's conclusion that Argentina's failure to allow Azurix to assess tariffs consistent with the concession agreement breached Argentina's obligation to provide fair and equitable treatment.
511 Wena Hotels Ltd v. Arab Republic of Egypt, Award, 2000 WL 34514091 (December 8, 2000) ("Wena Hotels ‐ Award"), at paras. 89‐95 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐136)
512 Eureko ‐ Partial Award, at para. 237 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐080)
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needs to bear some proportion to its resources. Mr. Paulsson quoted the recent
Investment Treaty treatise by Newcombe and Paradell, saying:
Although the host state is required to exercise an objective minimum standard of due diligence, the standard of due diligence is that of a host state in the circumstances and with the resources of the state in question. This suggests that due diligence is a modified objective standard – the host state must exercise the level of due diligence of a host state in its particular circumstances. In practice, tribunals will likely consider the state's level of development and stability as relevant circumstance in determining whether there has been due diligence. An investor investing in an area with endemic civil strife and poor governance cannot have the same expectation of physical security as one investing in London, New York or Tokyo.513
D. The Severity of Violations of International Standards
421. In the Neer case, the US‐Mexico Claims Commission stated:
It is in the opinion of the commission possible to go a little further than the authors quoted, and to hold (first) that the propriety of governmental acts should be put to the test of international standards
And (second) that the treatment of a alien, in order to constitute an international delinquency, should amount to an outrage, to bad faith, to willful neglect of duty, or to an insufficiency of governmental action so far short of international standards that every reasonable and impartial man would readily recognize its insufficiency.514
422. In other words, the view of the Commission in Neer was that not all actions that violate
primary obligations (international standards) engage state responsibility. However, the
notion that it may not be enough that governmental action falls short of the
international law standard was ended by the adoption of the ILC Articles on State
Responsibility. The ILC Articles have specifically overruled this approach, by providing
that a state is responsible for every act that violates international standards, regardless
of how far short that measure may be from those standards.515
423. Many other Tribunals – NAFTA and non‐NAFTA alike – have now adopted this approach,
confirming that a violation of "fair and equitable treatment", need not be characterized
as "outrageous" or "egregious".516
513 Pantechniki S.A. Contractors & Engineers (Greece) v. Republic of Albania, ICSID Case No. ARB/07/21, Award (July
30, 2009) ("Pantechniki ‐ Award"), at para. 81 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐031) 514 L.F.H. Neer and Pauline E. Neer (United States.) v. United Mexican States (October 15, 1926) 4 UNRIAA 138
(March 14, 1927) ("Neer"), at pp. 61‐62 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐141) 515 ILC Articles with Commentaries, at p. 54 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐008) Article 12 of the ILC
Articles on State Responsibility states "There is a breach of an international obligation by a State when an act of that State is not in conformity with what is required of it by that obligation, regardless of its origin or character."
516 Pope & Talbot ‐ Award on Merits of Phase 2, at para. 116 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐039); ADF Group ‐ Award, (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐072), Waste Management II ‐ Award (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐091); GAMI Investments, Inc. v. The Government of the United Mexican States, Final Award (November 15, 2004) ("GAMI v. Mexico") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐195)
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424. To the contrary, several tribunals have determined that a violation of "fair and equitable
treatment" may be triggered by behaviour that is simply "unreasonable".517 The Tribunal
in Saluka drew the direct relationship between "reasonableness" and "fair and equitable
treatment":
The standard of "reasonableness" has no different meaning in this context than in the context of the "fair and equitable treatment" standard with which it is associated; and the same is true with regard to the standard of "non‐discrimination". The standard of "reasonableness" therefore requires…a showing that the State's conduct bears a reasonable relationship to some rational policy, whereas the standard of "non‐discrimination" requires a rational justification of any differential treatment of a foreign investor."518
425. The direct nexus between "fair and equitable treatment" and the duty to act
"reasonably" was also affirmed by the Tribunal in Continental Casualty:
…the fair and equitable standard is aimed at assuring that the normal law‐abiding conduct of the business activity by the foreign investor is not hampered without good reasons by the host government and other authorities.519
426. The Tribunals in MTD Equity, Azurix, and Siemens all affirmed that, in the context of "fair
and equitable treatment", what international law and the NAFTA require is "treatment
in an even‐handed and just manner, conducive to fostering the promotion of foreign
investment."520 Where the treatment is unjust or not even‐handed, there is a violation of
"fair and equitable treatment."
427. Not only does the obligation to accord foreign investors "fair and equitable treatment"
require Canada to act in a non‐arbitrary and non‐discriminatory manner, but it also
requires Canada to act reasonably. Where there is no reasonable relationship between
Canada's actions and a rational policy, it fails to act reasonably, thereby violating its duty
to provide "fair and equitable treatment".
428. In any case, this issue is of very limited significance on the facts of the instant case, as
the conduct of Canada, pervaded by political motivation and national prejudice, would
have risen to the requisite standard of gravity under the traditional law of diplomatic
protection and a fortiori does so under contemporary international values or norms.
517 Iurii Bogdanov – Award, at p. 10 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐120); Eureko ‐ Partial Award, at
para. 234 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐080) 518 Saluka, at para. 460 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐081) 519 Continental Casualty Company v. Argentine Republic, ICSID Case No. ARB/03/9, Award (September 5, 2008)
("Continental Casualty ‐ Award"), at para. 254 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐143) 520 MTD Equity – Award, at para. 113 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐060); Azurix – Award, at para.
360, (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐070); and Siemens A.G. v. The Argentine Republic, ICSID Case No. ARB/02/8, Award (February 6, 2007) ("Siemens ‐ Award"), at para. 290 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐144)
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E. The Test is a Flexible One to be Applied in All the Circumstances
429. What amounts to a violation of the "fair and equitable treatment" standard is
necessarily specific to the circumstances of each case. As the Waste Management
Tribunal noted, "the standard is to some extent a flexible one which must be adapted to
the circumstances of each case."521 And as the Mondev Tribunal pointed out:
A judgment of what is fair and equitable cannot be reached in the abstract; it must depend on the facts of the particular case.522
430. What is certain, however, is that the jurisprudential trend has been consistently evolving
towards a higher customary law standard of investment protection from what Prof.
Schreuer terms as "state interference".523 As a result, the customary law standard of
treatment is now higher than it has been in the past, incorporating modern notions of
administrative fairness and due process of law.
431. And as the Tribunal in Rumeli put it:
The precise scope of the [fair and equitable treatment] standard is…left to the determination of the Tribunal which will have to decide whether in all the circumstances the conduct in issue is fair and equitable or unfair and inequitable.524
521 Waste Management II ‐ Award, at para. 99 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐091) 522 Mondev – Award, at para. 118, (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐034) 523 See, for example, Schreuer, C., "Fair and Equitable Treatment in Arbitral Practice" (June 2005) 6:3 The Journal of
World Investment & Trade, 357 ("Schreuer (2005)"), at p. 370 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐145)
524 Rumeli – Award, at para. 610, (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐064)
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V. ARTICLE 1503(2): STATE ENTERPRISES MUST COMPLY WITH NAFTA CHAPTER 11
432. NAFTA Chapter Fifteen sets out primary obligations that apply to state trading
enterprises. These obligations add to other primary obligations of the NAFTA in respect
of State enterprises, such as those under NAFTA Articles 1102, 1103, 1105, where the
conduct of the State enterprise is attributable to the state under international law rules,
such as under the ILC Articles on State Responsibility.
433. NAFTA Article 1503(2) says:
Each Party shall ensure, through regulatory control, administrative supervision or the application of other measures, that any state enterprise that it maintains or establishes acts in a manner that is not inconsistent with the Party's obligations under Chapters Eleven (Investment) and Fourteen (Financial Services) wherever such enterprise exercises any regulatory, administrative or other governmental authority that the Party has delegated to it, such as the power to expropriate, grant licenses, approve commercial transactions or impose quotas, fees or other charges.
434. A NAFTA Party breaches its obligations under NAFTA Article 1503(2) if four elements are
satisfied:
a) The state enterprise acts inconsistently with the Party's NAFTA obligations;
b) The state enterprise acts under delegated authority;
c) That delegated authority is governmental;
d) The Party failed to ensure, through regulatory control, administrative supervision or
the application of other measures, that the state enterprise acted consistently with
the Party's NAFTA Chapter Eleven obligations.
435. Annex 1505 provides a specific definition of a state enterprise for Canada as including a
"Crown corporation within the meaning of the Financial Administration Act (Canada), a
Crown corporation within the meaning of any comparable provincial law or equivalent
entity that is incorporated under other applicable provincial law."525
436. Article 1503(2) supplements NAFTA Parties' obligations under NAFTA Chapter Eleven.
Customary international law principles of state responsibility attribute responsibility to
Governments for breaches of international obligations by agents acting under delegated
governmental authority. A NAFTA Party is, therefore, already responsible under NAFTA
Chapter 11 for acts as a state enterprise inconsistent with Chapter Eleven obligations.
Article 1503(2) imposes an additional obligation on NAFTA Parties to provide
supervision to ensure that state enterprises follow the obligation of NAFTA Chapter
Eleven.
525 NAFTA Annex 1505.
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437. The need for this additional obligation arises from the unique opportunity of state
enterprises to treat foreign investors unfairly and to disrupt international economic
relations. The OECD says that:
The impact that state trading enterprises, monopolies, and enterprises with special or exclusive rights can have on market access for imports has been a matter of longstanding concern in
international trade relations.526
Consequently,
the WTO includes a number of competition‐related provisions regarding monopolies, state enterprises and enterprises with exclusive or special privileges. Similarly, many RTAs [regional
trade agreements] provide for extensive obligations regarding the conduct of such enterprises.527
438. Of the WTO provisions that address monopoly and state enterprise conduct, GATS
Article VIII says:
a) Each Member shall ensure that any monopoly supplier of a service in its territory
does not, in the supply of the monopoly service in the relevant market, act in a
manner inconsistent with that Member's obligations under Article II and specific
commitments.
b) Where a Member's monopoly supplier competes, either directly or through an
affiliated company, in the supply of a service outside the scope of its monopoly rights
and which is subject to that Member's specific commitments, the Member shall
ensure that such supplier does not abuse its monopoly position to act in its territory
in a manner inconsistent with such commitments [emphasis added].
439. Article XVII(1)(a) of the GATT (1947) is similar, but applies to state enterprise actions
regarding imports and exports.
440. In its Statement on Implementation, Canada said:528
Market integration under NAFTA will generate a dynamic transitional period resulting in increased competition throughout the free‐trade area. The response by the private sector, whether through pricing or other business practices, must be competitively appropriate.
441. NAFTA Article 1503(2) contemplates that authority can be delegated by a broad range of
government acts. NAFTA Note 44 says that in Article 1502, "a ‘delegation' includes a
526 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Working Party of the Trade Committee, The
Relationship between regional trade Agreements and the Multilateral Trading Systems: Competition (May 7, 2002) ("OECD, Working Party"), at para. 31 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐146)
527 OECD, Working Party, at para. 31 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐146) 528 Canadian Statement on Implementation, at pp. 180‐181 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐012)
The Statement on Implementation provides: With the increasing globalization of production and markets, the role of competition policy in influencing trade, investment and technology exchange has suggested the need or governments to address differences in approach to competition. Recent experience demonstrates the extent to which differences in competition policy can act as a barrier to trade or as a source of dispute. The FTA made brief reference to monopolies (article 2010); the NAFTA devotes considerably more attention to the subject.
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legislative grant, and a government order, directive or other act transferring to the
monopoly, or authorizing the exercise by the monopoly of, governmental authority".
442. Customary international law also informs the meaning of "delegation" within NAFTA
Article 1503(2). The commentary to the ILC Articles says that States attract responsibility
for agents' actions taken under discretionary authority:
... an entity is covered even if its exercise of authority involves an independent discretion or power to act; there is no need to show that the conduct was in fact carried out under the control
of the State.529
443. The interpretation is consistent with the purpose of attributing responsibility to states
for the actions of agents to which the state has delegated authority. Just as the state
cannot escape responsibility for delegating authority to non‐state entities, the state
cannot escape responsibility for delegating authority in a vague manner.530
444. Where the state agency or entity in question is granting licenses, by giving investors
permission to operate, it is irrefutable that the activity falls within Article 1503(2). This
then compels an examination as to whether the state fulfilled its responsibilities and
"ensure[d], through regulatory control, administrative supervision or the application of
other measures," that the state agency or enterprise acted consistent with the state's
obligations under NAFTA Chapter 11.
529 Crawford (2002), at p. 102 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐006) 530 The United States, therefore, has no support in the text, customary international law, or the principles which
underlie it, when it argues that authority must be "specifically" delegated to the agent to fall within Articles 1502(3)(a) and 1503(2). United Parcel Service v. Canada, Second Submission of the United States of America, 2007 WL 5366485, May 13, 2002 ("U.P.S. ‐ Second Submission of the US"), at para. 9 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐147)
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VI. THE PROCUREMENT DEFENSE CANNOT APPLY
A. The Article 1108 Defense
445. Canada contends that under Article 1108 "procurement by a Party or state enterprise is
not subject to the obligations in NAFTA Articles 1102, 1103 and 1106."531 However, as
Canada has not provided a Statement of Defence, the Investor is unable to discern what
point Canada is purporting to make.
446. The Investor notes, however, that in considering the questions of whether the
procurement exemption in Article 1108 applied to a domestic content obligation, the
Tribunal in ADF concluded that the definition of procurement for the purposes of
Chapter Eleven could be discerned from the NAFTA as a whole, and gave particular
attention to the definition of procurement in Chapter 10, which is specifically about
"Procurement."532
447. The definition of procurement in Chapter Ten contains Article 1001(5), excludes:
a) Goods resold by procuring governments to others, and
b) Procurement by state and local government.
Neither of these types of transactions are covered by the NAFTA definition of
procurement.
448. The definition of procurement in Article 1001(5) of NAFTA says in particular:
... Procurement does not include:
e) non‐contractual agreements or any form of government assistance, including
cooperative agreements, grants, loans, equity infusions, guarantees, fiscal incentives,
and government provision of goods and services to persons or state, provincial and
regional governments …. [emphasis added]
449. Significantly, whether the Government acquires ownership over or purchases the goods
is not defining or dispositive of procurement: hence lease or rental arrangements are
also included. Equally significantly, where what is involved is "provision of services" to
"persons" (i.e. non‐governmental entities) or even to other governments, such
arrangements fall outside the definition of a procurement. In sum, what defines a
procurement is the government obtaining goods and services for its own use, not for
provision to others.
450. There is no procurement contemplated by the Government of Canada in this arbitration.
There is an allegation of procurement by Ontario, however, the definition of a
531 Canada, Outline of Potential Issues, at para. 22. 532 ADF Group ‐ Award, at para. 161 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐072)
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procurement in Chapter Ten explicitly excludes provincial procurement as well as
government provision of goods and services to the public.
451. The scope of provincial coverage within the NAFTA Procurement Chapter is set out in
Article 1001(1)(a). It says that the Chapter relates to procurement by a province or
provincial government entities only if they are in accord with Article 1024 (which
requires further negotiation) and are then set out in an annex after that negotiation
(Annex 1001.1a‐3). The list in Annex 1001.1a‐3 has no entries, so procurement from
unlisted provinces or provincial entities are not subject to the definition of the term
"procurement" in the NAFTA.
452. A similar limitation on what constitutes procurement is NAFTA Article 1502(4). In
relation to government monopolies, it clearly indicates that commercial resale is outside
the scope of procurement:
Paragraph 3 does not apply to procurement by governmental agencies of goods or services for governmental purposes and not with a view to commercial resale or with a view to use in the production of goods or the provision of services for commercial sale.
453. The commercial resale exclusion is identical to Article III:8(a) of the GATT 1994, which
states:
The provisions of this Article shall not apply to laws, regulations or requirements governing the procurement by governmental agencies of products purchased for governmental purposes and not with a view to commercial resale or with a view to use in the production of goods for commercial sale.
454. The predecessor of GATT 1994 was in effect at the time the NAFTA was negotiated.
455. The approach taken by the NAFTA Tribunal in ADF, and adopted by the UPS Tribunal,533
is also consistent with the approach to interpretation mandated by NAFTA Article
1131(1) and Article 31 of the the Vienna Convention which incorporates through
international law the widespread trade‐law meaning of the procurement. 534
B. Procurement Under the NAFTA
i. The Concept of a "Procurement"
456. Under the FIT Program, power provided by renewable energy producers, like Mesa, was
to supply energy into the Ontario grid, which would immediately be available for
commercial resale. None of the energy that would have been produced by Mesa under
the FIT Program would have been available for a purpose other than commercial resale.
533 United Parcel Service v. Canada, Award & Separate Opinion of Dean Ronald A. Cass, 2007 WL 5366485 (May 24,
2007) ("U.P.S. ‐ Award") at para. 131 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐148) 534 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969), art. 31(3)(c) (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at
CL‐11)
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The way that Ontario's electrical grid is organized, all power goes into a grid, and all
power is available for commercial resale from the grid.
457. Thus, the OPA's "purchase" of electricity from generators under the FIT Program was a
transaction that, neither individually nor collectively, could be characterized as
"procurement" by OPA.
ii. Government Purposes
458. Both the EU and Japan submitted to the WTO Panel that "government purchases" for
"government purposes" must be "for government use or benefit," and they noted that
the significance of how purchased products are used is confirmed by Article III:8(a) of
the GATT, which contrasts "governmental purposes" with "use in the production of
goods for commercial sale."535
459. In addition, the EU referenced the negotiating history of Article III of the GATT to
observe that it was intended to refer to the same type of government procurement as
Article XVII:2 of the GATT 1994, which defines "procurement" as requiring "immediate
or ultimate consumption in governmental use."536
iii. "Commercial Resale"
460. There can be no doubt that electricity purchased by the OPA is resold to Ontario
consumers. At the WTO, however, Canada contended that the resale was not
"commercial" because the Ontario electricity market was something other than
"commercial." The Panel rejected the contention and held that "commercial" does not
require the transaction to be for‐profit, or profitable, though it also found as a matter of
fact that the Ontario market was one characterized by commercial competition
between electricity suppliers to customers.
461. The French version of Article III:8(a) confirms the Panel's understanding of "commercial"
resale. The French equivalent of "commercial resale" is "revendus dans le commerce,"
which confirms that "commercial resale" simply means in Article III:8 (a) that the goods
are resold in or through "commerce". No market benchmark is expressed or implied,
and "commerce" can occur in any kind of market. The obvious contrast is between
situations where goods change hands within the government or between government
entities (i.e., the "resale" occurs within the public sector), and situations (like that of
535 Canada ‐ Measures Relating to the Feed‐In Tariff Program, WT/DS426, First Written Submission of the European
Union (February 14, 2012) ("Canada ‐ FIT EU Submission"), at para. 119 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐202)
536 Canada ‐ Measures Relating to the Feed‐in Tariff Program, at para. 32 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐004)
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electricity in Ontario) where resale makes the goods available to non‐governmental
consumers in or through commerce.
462. The International Court of Justice, in its Judgment on Jurisdiction in the Oil Platforms
case (Iran v. United States) noted that the expression "commerce" in a treaty should be
given its ordinary meaning, and not a restrictive meaning, unless there is clear evidence
that the drafters intended otherwise:
In the view of the Court, there is nothing to indicate that the parties to the Treaty intended to use the word "commerce" in any sense different from that which it generally bears. The word "commerce" is not restricted in ordinary usage to the mere act of purchase and sale; it has connotations that extend beyond mere purchase and sale to include "the whole of the transactions, arrangements, etc., therein involved" (Oxford English Dictionary, 1989, Vol. 3, p. 552). In legal language, likewise, this term is not restricted to mere purchase and sale because it can refer to "not only the purchase, sale, and exchange of commodities, but also the instrumentalities and agencies by which it is promoted and the means and appliances by which it is carried on, and transportation of persons as well as of goods, both by land and sea (Black's Law
Dictionary, 1990, p. 269).537
463. In the Costa Rica v. Nicaragua case, the International Court of Justice also applied the
ordinary meaning of the term "commerce", rejecting arguments that it had special
meanings. The ICJ held that "commerce" or a "commercial transaction" is any
transaction where goods or services are exchanged for valuable consideration.538
464. In Canada – Renewable Energy the WTO Panel and the Appellate Body found that the
Ontario minimum local content requirements in the FIT Program violated Canada's
obligations under the Trade‐Related Investment Measures Agreement. These are
obligations owed to over 150 member countries. The WTO considered and then rejected
the applicability of a procurement exception which was similar to the Article 1108(7)
exception in the NAFTA.
465. Indeed, the drafters of the GATT and the NAFTA could never have imagined such a vast
carve out from fundamental non‐discrimination requirements. The potential for abuse
could also be great, as governments could avoid their obligations of non‐discriminatory
market access for imports by having the government acquire some temporary
entitlement to the goods.
iv. Article XVII of the GATT: State Trading Enterprises
466. The importance of non‐discrimination disciplines when government is a market
participant or operator (and not simply a consumer for its own use) is illustrated by
537 Oil Platforms ‐ Preliminary Objection, at para. 45 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐020) 538 Dispute regarding Navigational and Related Rights (Costa Rica v. Nicaragua), Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 2009, 213
("Costa Rica v. Nicaragua"), at para. 71 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐149)
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Article XVII of the GATT, which extends state responsibility to entities which may have a
formal legal personality that is formally independent of state organs.
467. Blank and Marceau note, after the initial GATT was negotiated, that:
Public purchases of supplies for governmental use became subject only to an obligation of fair and equitable treatment in favor of other countries under the Article on state‐trading enterprises.539
468. Article XVII requires that state trading enterprises, "in their purchases or sales involving
either imports or exports – are to act in accordance with the general principles of non‐
discrimination. It also instructs that Members are to notify their state trading
enterprises to the WTO annually."540
469. In the Korea‐Beef report, the Appellate Body upheld that the general principle of non‐
discrimination.541 As Blank and Marceau observe:
a distinction needs to be drawn between state‐trading and government procurement. In state‐trading, governments or their agents are involved in buying, selling and sometimes reselling: governments are trading‐actors like any other firms. Government procurement involves governments or their agents acting as consumers, procuring for their own consumption and not for resale.542
470. Thus, Article XVII:2 of the GATT defines government procurement as an exception in a
manner that is essentially the same as Article III:8 of the GATT. As Professor Ping Wang
observed:
the wording of Article XVII:2 is similar to that of Article III:8 GATT. Just ‘for governmental purposes' was replaced by ‘for immediate or ultimate consumption in governmental use' and ‘not for commercial resale' was replaced by ‘not otherwise for resale.' It could be argued that these differences are not substantial.543
471. Professor Wang's analysis conforms to the interpretative principles in Article 31 of the
Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. Considering the object and purpose of Article
III and the GATT as a whole, it would be highly incongruent if the word "commercial" in
539 Annet Blank & Gabrielle Marceau, "A History of Multilateral Negotiations on Procurement: From ITO to WTO,"
in Bernard M. Hoekman & Petros C. Mavroidis (eds.), Law and Policy in Public Purchasing: The WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1997) ("Blank & Marceau: "A History""), at p. 51 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐150)
540 World Trade Organisation "The regulation of state trading under the WTO system" State Trading Enterprises: Regulation <http://www.wto.org> (retrieved November 14, 2013) ("WTO: "Regulation of State Trading") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐151)
541 Korea‐ Measures Affecting Imports of Fresh, Chilled and Frozen Beef, WTO/DS161/AB/R, WT/DS169/AB/R, Report of the Appellate Body (10 January 2001) ("Korea Beef") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐152)
542 Blank & Marceau: "A History", at p. 33 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐150) 543 Ping Wang, "The Procurement of State Trading Enterprises Under the WTO Agreements: A Proposal for the Way
Forward," in Sue Arrowsmith and Robert D. Anderson (eds.), The WTO Regime on Government Procurement: Challenge and Reform (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011) ("Wang: "Procurement""), at pp. 217‐218 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐153)
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Article III:8, along with its absence in Article XVII:2, were read such that organs of the
state do not have to comply with the National Treatment obligation when they are
market operators, while state trading enterprises, which may well not be organs, do
have to abide by principles of non‐discrimination.
v. WTO Agreement on Government Procurement
472. The WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (the GPA) is focused on the subject
of government procurement, and is more detailed than the procurement exemption
under GATT Article III:8(a). Article I:2 of the GPA indicates that "government
procurement" may include lease or rental arrangements. Thus, for the GPA, what is
defining or dispositive of a procurement is not that at some stage the government has
acquired legal ownership over or purchased the goods, but that it has obtained them for
its own use and benefit.
473. In Canada's General Notes to Appendix I of the GPA, Canada defines procurement as
"contractual transactions to acquire property or services for the direct benefit or use of
the government."544 Procurement therefore cannot refer to products that are intended
to be sold to consumers.
vi. The WTO's conclusions on the nexus of the Procurement Exemption
474. The WTO Panel considered the nature of the electricity market in Ontario. It recognized
that there was a private marketplace and that Ontario was obtaining power that was
being immediately resold into that private marketplace for delivery to consumers and
industry. The Panel found:
We recall that the Government of Ontario purchases electricity under the FIT Programme, through the FIT and microFIT Contracts. The purchased electricity is injected by generators into Ontario's electricity grid via transmission and distribution networks, and is eventually sold to consumers by Hydro One, LDCs [Local Distribution Companies] and private‐sector licensed electricity retailers. Hydro One is a holding company wholly‐owned by the Government of Ontario and an "agent" of the Government of Ontario. As explained in more detail below, Hydro One is also a "public body" for the purpose of Article 1 of the SCM Agreement. Of the 80 LDCs that currently operate in Ontario, 77 are owned by municipal governments. The private‐sector licensed retailers "sell contracts to businesses and consumers"545. We understand there are currently 45 licensed electricity retailers operating in Ontario that compete with LDCs in their respective service areas. Thus, it is evident that the electricity purchased by the Government of Ontario under the FIT Programme is resold to retail consumers through Hydro One and the LDCs in competition with private‐sector retailers.546
475. The Panel continued:
544 Canada ‐ FIT EU Submission, at para. 120 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐202) 545 Ontario's Long‐Term Energy Plan, Appendix One (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0414) 546 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.147 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001)
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We are not convinced by Canada's argument that electricity purchased under the FIT Programme is not resold because of the fact that it is injected into Ontario's electricity grid, where it is pooled with electricity from other sources547. As we see it, the fact that electricity purchased under the FIT Programme is consumed through precisely the same channels as electricity supplied from all other generating sources supports the view that it is resold by the Government of Ontario and the municipal governments through Hydro One and the LDCs in competition with private‐sector electricity retailers.
Thus, to the extent that the notion of commerce should, as the complainants argue, be understood to simply encompass the buying and selling or trading of products into a market, the Government of Ontario's purchases of electricity, through the FIT Programme, may be considered to be a first step in the resale of electricity to retail consumers, and thereby the introduction of electricity into commerce. Canada, however, argues that even under the complainants' interpretation of the term "commercial resale", the purchases of electricity by the Government of Ontario under the FIT Programme cannot be qualified as being made "with a view to commercial resale". In particular, Canada argues that the OPA cannot be said to sell or introduce products into the "market", because a "market" "where supply and demand freely meet" does not exist in the Ontario electricity system548. We are not persuaded by Canada's argument. In our view, the consideration of whether Ontario's electricity system is, as a whole, highly regulated or made up entirely of competitive markets at the different levels of trade does not change the basic fact that electricity purchased by the Government of Ontario under the FIT Programme is bought from generators and sold to retail consumers through the same channels as all other electricity by Hydro One and LDCs in competition with private sector electricity retailers. Therefore, consistently with the complainants' interpretation of "commercial resale", the purchased electricity is introduced into commerce.549
476. The WTO Appellate Body considered the findings of the Panel as to whether the
operation of the FIT Program constituted procurement that should apply as a defense
under GATT Article III:8, and concluded:
a) Many of the measures in the FIT Program are not procurements at all.550 This is
especially important as the NAFTA definition of procurement only applies to a
procurement transaction itself, and thus is narrower than the GATT definition.
b) The terms of the FIT Program did not govern government procurement of electricity,
but the purchasing policies of the private sector entities that would supply the
power into the electricity grid – and so such measures never could be considered to
be procurement measures.551
477. In addition to the findings of the WTO Appellate Body, the advantages provided to the
members of the Korean Consortium are not procurements at all. Indeed, the definition
547 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at paras. 7.148 and 7.149 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities
at CL‐001) 548 Canada ‐ Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy Generation Sector, at paras. 129‐130 (Investor's Schedule
of Legal Authorities at CL‐003) 549 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at paras. 7.147 and 7.148 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities
at CL‐001) 550 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ AB Report, at para. 5.79 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐002) 551 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ AB Report, at para. 5.84 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐002)
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of procurement in NAFTA Chapter Ten excludes "cooperation agreement" and any form
of government assistance. Nor are many of the other measures complained of by the
Investor even close to being within the ordinary meaning of the word "procurement",
such as decisions about transmission that are regulatory or administrative acts quite
separate from any individual transaction for the acquisition of generated energy by the
Government.
478. The Ontario local content requirement does not require local content in the generated
renewable energy that is being purchased, but is a separate imposition concerning the
Investor's purchases of equipment and services.
479. Accordingly, Canada is not able to rely upon the procurement exemption in Article 1108
because
a) The measures at issue are simply not procurements, but other kinds of government
measures such as cooperation Agreements with the Korean Consortium, which are
excluded from any meaning of "procurement."
b) The notion of procurement does not apply where a commercial resale is involved;
and
c) The definition of procurement does not apply to a provincial government under
NAFTA Article 1005(1).
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PART FOUR: THE LAW APPLIED TO THE FACTS
480. This section of the Memorial focuses on how Canada's measures described in Part Two
of the Memorial were inconsistent with Canada's NAFTA obligations described in Part
Three.
481. Canada imposed Performance Requirements in violation of NAFTA Article 1106 by
requiring that investors meet a minimum level of purchases of domestic goods and
services.
482. Canada contravened its Most Favored Nation Treatment obligation in NAFTA Article
1103:
a) Canada provided treatment that was less favorable to Mesa and its investments
than was provided to companies owned by investors from Non‐Parties in like
circumstances to Mesa, such as Samsung C&T and the Korean Electric Power
Corporation; and
b) The measures interfered with the conduct, management, operation and expansion
of Mesa Investments.
483. Canada contravened its National Treatment obligation in NAFTA Article 1102:
a) Canada provided treatment that was less favorable to Mesa Power and its
investments than was provided to Canadian companies in like circumstances to
Mesa, including Pattern Renewable Holdings Canada and Boulevard Associates
Canada; and
b) The measures interfered with the conduct, management, operation and expansion
of Mesa Investments.
484. NAFTA Article 1104 requires that an investor from the United States, and its
investments, receive from Canada the best treatment provided in the jurisdiction under
either NAFTA 1102 or 1103.
485. Canada contravened its International Law Standard of Treatment obligation in NAFTA
Article 1105:
a) Canada treated Mesa Power in a discriminatory manner by altering the regulatory
process to favor select investments including Samsung C&T's and NextEra's
investments, based on political considerations;
b) Canada acted in a non‐transparent manner by guaranteeing priority treatment to
certain proponents;
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c) Canada failed to provide information to Mesa and did not accord Mesa procedural
fairness it was reasonably entitled to expect, given the overall legal and regulatory
framework, and the manner in which other market participants were being treated;
d) Canada's process for awarding Power Purchase Agreements was unfair,
unreasonable and arbitrary toward Mesa; and
e) In failing to follow the process prescribed by the FIT Rules, Canada violated Mesa
reasonable and legitimate expectations.
486. Mesa suffered harm, loss, injury and damage as a result of each of these breaches of the
NAFTA. The harm suffered by the Investor as a result of the domestic content
requirements, preferential treatment granted to Samsung and its partners, and the
unlawful operation of the FIT Program, is set out in Part Six of the Memorial.
I. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
487. Ontario's FIT Program conditioned the granting of a PPA on a requirement that
proponents achieve a level of domestic content in their investments. This is a direct
violation of Article 1106(1)(b), which prohibits conditioning the establishment of an
investment on achieving a level of domestic content.
488. The practical effect of the domestic content requirements was that Mesa was required
to change its business plan and expend capital to meet Ontario's requirements.552 This
led to business decisions and contracts being entered into that Mesa would not have
normally engaged. However, it had no choice.
489. The domestic content requirements were contained in Section Rule 6.4 of the FIT Rules
of the FIT Program, and included the caveat that those who failed to meet the required
levels of domestic content "will be in default".553
A. The Domestic Content Requirement is a Breach of Article 1106(1)
490. Rule 6.4 of the FIT Rules stipulates that Contract Facilities utilizing windpower with a
Contract Capacity greater than 10 kW, or Contract Facilities utilizing solar (PV), must
achieve a minimum percentage for their Domestic Content Level. The level each needs
to achieve is set out in the FIT Contract Cover Page ("The Minimum Required Domestic
Content Level"):
a) For windpower Projects with a Contract Capacity greater than 10 kW, the Minimum
Required Domestic Content Level is 25% for FIT Contracts that have a Milestone
552 CWS ‐ Robertson, at para. 18. 553 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009, Section 6.4
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258)
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Date For Commercial Operation prior to January 1, 2012, and 50% for FIT Contracts
that have a Milestone Date for Commercial Operations on or after January 1, 2012.
b) The Domestic Content Level of a Contract Facility will be calculated in accordance
with the methodology set out in Exhibit D to the FIT Contract. If a Contract Facility
does not meet the Minimum Required Domestic Content Level, the Supplies will be
in default under the FIT Contract.554
491. The specific thresholds to be incorporated in the FIT PPA Contracts were set out in
Section 6.4 of the Rules, which provided:
For wind power Projects with a Contract Capacity greater than 10kW, the Minimum Required Domestic Content Level is 25 percent for FIT Contracts that have a Milestone Date For Commercial Operations prior to January 1, 2012 and 50% for FIT Contracts that have a Milestone Date For Commercial Operation on or after January 1, 2012.555
492. Domestic content levels established in the FIT Rules range from 25% for wind power
projects over 10kW in 2009‐2011, and jump to 50% for wind projects over 10kW in
2012. A distinction is made regarding the level of local inputs according to the source of
energy, and the size of the renewable energy project, and the levels of domestic content
increase over time. All contracts involving Mesa Power required a 50% minimum
domestic content.
493. A FIT Contract had to meet the minimum required domestic content level,556 and would
not be eligible to receive the benefits of the FIT Program unless it complied with the
requirements set forth in the FIT Rules and provided in the FIT Contract. An interested
applicant had to complete the Domestic Content report package within 60 days of
reaching Commercial Operation pursuant to the requirements of Section 2.11(c) of the
FIT Contract.557
494. The FIT Program's minimum domestic content requirement was designed to require all
successful applications to contain a minimum percentage of local content. However, the
domestic content percentage was arbitrary and discriminatory by non‐transparently
increasing the effective minimum domestic content significantly beyond the stated
percentages and limiting how much each component of a project could be counted.
554 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009, Section
6.4(a)(i),6.4(b) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258) 555 Ontario Power Authority, FIT Rules Version 1.5, June 3, 2011, at para. 6.4 (a)(i) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits
at C‐0005) 556 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Contract (FIT Contract) Version 1.5, June 3, 2011, at paras. 2.2(f),
2.4(b)(iii) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0263) 557 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Contract (FIT Contract) Version 1.5, June 3, 2011, at paras. 2.11(c)
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0263)
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495. For example, wind turbine blades cast in a mould in Ontario, and instrumentation in the
blades that were also assembled in Ontario, were together artificially capped at a
maximum contribution of 16 percent of the total domestic content. Yet wind turbine
blade costs represented far more than 16 percent. As a result, the total amount of local
content is significantly higher than the ostensible minimum percentage of domestic
content required by the FIT Rules because of the limits and number of sub‐component
categories the FIT Rules required.
496. Wind projects that became operational after January 1, 2012, were required to locally
source 50% of the equipment and services they used in the generation of electricity.558
To ascertain whether or not a proponent reached the required threshold of domestic
content, the FIT Rules prescribed that certain activities equalled a certain "qualifying
percentage" of the domestic content required. An example can be seen in Exhibit D to
the FIT Contract version 1.5 which breaks down the different mechanical and production
sub‐components required to generate wind power and identifies how sourcing each of
those components in Ontario would be calculated towards the minimum domestic
content requirements:559
497. The way the sub‐component maximums were set was capricious and the entire
industrial fabrication process was distorted to increase the investment distorting effect
of the minimum domestic content requirements.
498. The WTO Appellate Body made the following observations:
Under the FIT stream, electricity generation facilities utilizing windpower and solar PV technologies must comply with "Minimum Required Domestic Content Levels", which must be satisfied in the development and construction of these facilities. ..... The "Domestic Content Level" of a facility participating in either stream of the FIT Programme is calculated pursuant to a methodology that identifies a range of different "Designated Activities" and an associated "Qualifying Percentage". For each Designated Activity that is performed in relation to a facility, an associated Qualifying Percentage will be achieved. A project's Domestic Content Level "will be
558 Ontario Power Authority, FIT Rules Version 1.5, June 3, 2011, at para. 6.4(a)(i) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits
at C‐0005) 559 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Contract Version 1.1, September 30, 2009, Exhibit D, Table 1 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0109)
Designated Activity Qualifying Percentage
Wind turbine blades case in a mould in Ontario, and instrumentation that is within the blades has been assembled in Ontario.
16%
Pitch system, where the gear wheels for the pitch system has been cut, carburized and ground in Ontario, and where the pitch system has been assembled and tested in Ontario.
3%
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determined by adding up the Qualifying Percentages associated with all of the Designated Activities performed in relation to that particular project".560
499. The WTO Panel Report explained the process and how it created obligations for
investors like Mesa to move part of their manufacturing and processing to Ontario to be
compliant with the FIT Rules:
For each "Designated Activity" that is performed in relation to the Contract Facility, an associated "Qualifying Percentage" will be achieved. For example, where the wind turbine blades of a windpower project have been "cast in a mould in Ontario" and the "instrumentation that is within the blades has been assembled in Ontario", the Contract Facility will achieve a Qualifying Percentage of 16%. The FIT Contract explains that a project's Domestic Content Level will be determined by adding up the Qualifying Percentages associated with all of the Designated Activities performed in relation to that particular project.561
500. In order to ensure that applicants were compliant, FIT proponents had to complete a
Domestic Content Report package.562 These requirements leave no doubt that the local
content requirements set down by the OPA at the instruction of the Ministry of Energy
were, in the words of the Pope & Talbot Tribunal, "impose[d] or enforce[d]."563
501. The Appellate Body of the WTO found that it was impossible for an applicant in the FIT
Program to not abide by the Program's requirements, such as the local content
requirements:
An entity that enters into a FIT or microFIT Contract is required to, inter alia, build, operate, and maintain the approved generation facility in accordance with all relevant laws and regulations, and deliver the electricity produced into the Ontario electricity system.564
502. The WTO Panel Report found that the domestic requirement was a necessary
precondition to being awarded a FIT contract:
As we explain in more detail elsewhere in these Reports, the evidence before us reveals that the "Minimum Required Domestic Content Level" is a condition that must be satisfied by electricity generators utilizing solar PV or windpower technologies wanting to participate in the FIT Program. In other words, the "Minimum Required Domestic Content Level" compels the purchase and use of certain renewable energy generation equipment that is sourced in Ontario as a necessary prerequisite for the alleged procurement by the Government of Ontario to take place...565
560 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ AB Report, at paras. 1.3, 1.4 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐002) 561 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.160 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001);
The AB Report reached the same conclusion, see Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ AB Report, at para. 4.22 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐002)
562 All of the prescribed forms necessary for the submission of a complete Domestic Content Report are available online. Ontario Power Authority, FIT Rules Version 1.5, June 3, 2011, at paras. 2.11(c) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0005)
563 Pope & Talbot v. Government of Canada, Interim Award (June 26, 2000) para. 75 ("Pope ‐ Interim Award") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐154)
564 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ AB Report, at para. 4.20 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐002) 565 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.124 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001)
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503. At the WTO, Canada acknowledged that the FIT Program was a measure. The Panel
noted:
First, Canada contends the challenged measures are law, regulations or requirements governing the procurement of electricity. Canada considers that Section 25.35 of the Electricity Act of 1998; the Ministerial Direction; and the FIT and microFIT Rules and Contracts are laws or requirements for the purposes of Article III:8(a).566
504. The WTO AB summarized the WTO Panel findings about how the FIT Program
constituted a performance requirement:
At the outset of its analysis, the Panel addressed the question of whether the FIT Programme and related FIT and microFIT Contracts are "trade‐related investment measures"(TRIMs) within the meaning of Article 1 of the TRIMs Agreement. The Panel found that one aim of the FIT Programme and Contracts is to encourage investment in the local production of equipment associated with the generation of electricity from renewable sources in Ontario.567 Furthermore, the Panel found that the FIT Programme and Contracts "compel [electricity generators] to purchase and use certain types of renewable energy generation equipment sourced in Ontario in the design and construction of their facilities".568 On this basis, the Panel concluded that the FIT Programme and Contracts constituted TRIMS "to the extent they envisage and impose domestic content requirements".569
505. For the same reasons, the minimum content requirements of the FIT Program constitute
prohibited performance requirements under NAFTA Article 1106. The Panel said:
Thus, based on the foregoing analysis, we find that the FIT Programme, and the FIT and microFIT Contracts, to the extent they envisage and impose a "Minimum Required Domestic Content Level", constitute TRIMs within the meaning of Article 1 of the TRIMs Agreement.570
B. Mesa took steps to secure Domestic Content
506. Mesa took steps to secure domestic content in line with the requirements. The local
content requirements in the FIT Program were a direct impediment to Mesa being able
to proceed with its investment in an efficient and expeditious manner, and interfered
with Mesa's ability to obtain a fair return from its investment.
507. In November 2009, Mesa was forced to restructure a pre‐existing contract with its major
supplier, General Electric (GE), on the acquisition of the Arran and TTD project, so that it
could meet the minimum local content requirements of the FIT Program. The value of
the Master Turbine Supply Agreement that Mesa restructured in order to comply with
the FIT local content requirements was approximately USD$150 million.
566 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.88 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 567 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.109 (referring to Minister's 2009 FIT Direction, at p. 1)
(Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 568 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.111 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 569 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ AB Report, at para. 5.38 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐002) 570 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.111 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001)
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508. After re‐structuring its agreement with GE for turbines, Mesa had to ensure that the
production of turbines would satisfy the FIT Program's domestic content requirements.
GE updated Mesa in January 2011 that "we are working to ensure that the products
offered to developers in Ontario will meet the requirements set forth by the OPA."571
509. Much of Mesa's interaction with GE was centered around its need to successfully meet
the local content requirements set out in the FIT Program. Mesa's concern was that it
would be able to meet the full extent of the requirements for all projects subject to the
quota.
510. GE did not respond to this enquiry and did not confirm that any turbine other than the
1.6 MW turbine could successfully meet the Ontario domestic content minimums
necessary to have a successful FIT bid.572
511. When GE introduced a new component that could have saved costs associated with the
project, Mesa's primary concern was not to implement the cost‐saving measure, but
instead to ensure that "there are not any hang‐ups with the local content requirements
of the Ontario market" before it proceeded.573
512. The minimum domestic content rules created invidious effects for Mesa, which had to
constantly change its optimal product component mix and substitute its strategic
commercial plans with less efficient and more costly items to comply with the capricious
minimum domestic content rules.
513. Canada has produced a few documents evidencing any discussion between government
officials, agencies and public bodies surrounding domestic content requirements. These
limited documents cannot represent full documentary production of the many officials
who were tasked to address domestic content for renewable energy PPAs.574 The
documents produced refer to a "domestic content working group" with representatives
from the OPA and the Ministry of Energy. No meeting minutes or agendas have been
produced, nor any of the other ordinary documents one would expect to be generated
from such meetings.
571 Letter from Ben Kennedy (GE) to Chuck Edey, January 4, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0187) 572 CWS ‐ Robertson, at para. 19. 573 Email from Michal Volpe (GE) to Mark Ward, April 29, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0394) 574 These documents are covered by Investor's Document Request No. 5(c), which requested "communications
between Government Entities involving discussions and/or negotiations of Domestic Content requirements". Furthermore, no documents have been produced under Investor's Document Request No. 5(f) requesting "Documents and plans describing how the specific projects with FIT Contracts qualified under the domestic content requirements".
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II. MOST FAVORED NATION TREATMENT
514. Canada did not ensure that it provided treatment as favorable as that provided to
investments of investors from other NAFTA Parties or Non NAFTA Parties who were in
like circumstances to Mesa. As a result, Canada did not meet its obligation to provide
Most Favored Nation Treatment to the Investment and to its Investor under Article
1103:
a) Mesa and its investment were in like circumstances with those seeking to obtain
transmission access and Power Purchase Agreements, as were the members of the
Korean Consortium, and the Korean Consortium's joint venture partner, Pattern
Energy;
b) The Korean Consortium was provided better treatment than Mesa in that it was
given preferential access to transmission capacity in Ontario's power grid and other
governmental assistance;
c) The Korean Consortium received better pricing for renewable power sold in PPAs
and automatic rights to increase power project size. This favourable treatment was
not provided to Mesa; and
d) The better treatment provided to Korean Consortium was "with respect to the
establishment, acquisition, expansion, management, conduct, operation, and sale or
other disposition" of Mesa's investment.575
A. Likeness
515. Samsung C&T and its joint venture partner, Pattern Energy Group, like Mesa, were
seeking Power Purchase Agreements from the Ontario government, and were
competing for a portion of Ontario's limited transmission capacity.
516. Proponents competing for renewable energy Power Purchase Agreements knew that
they were competing against one another for access to the limited total transmission
capacity available in the Ontario transmission system. Whether they were attempting to
obtain that transmission capacity through the FIT Program or through the GEIA, for a
PPA to be awarded, there had to be transmission access.
517. Indeed, those involved during 2009‐2011 in the Ontario renewable energy market on
behalf of Samsung and Pattern have acknowledged that they competed for
transmission.
575 NAFTA Article 1103.
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a) Colin Edwards, Pattern's Director of Grand Renewable Wind GP Inc. stated in a
sworn declaration filed in the Courts of the State of California that: "The
environment in Ontario remains intensely competitive for the award of power
contracts," and acknowledged that transmission capacity is fixed.576
b) Zohrab Mawani, who acted as the Director of Business Development and Assistant
General Manager of Samsung Canada, swore in a declaration that:
"There is a finite amount of transmission capacity in the province of Ontario and companies that seek PPAs in Ontario are in competition to obtain access to this limited transmission capacity. Samsung Korea competed against these other companies for transmission access in order to sell power under PPAs."577
518. More specifically, in addition to competing for a fixed amount of transmission capacity,
Mesa and Samsung were competing for the very same connection points to the
transmission system in the Bruce Region, specifically connection points B22D and B23D.
519. Under oath, Colin Edwards admits that
In the end, Samsung's Armow project
connected to both the B22D and B23D circuits.579 Mesa's application for the Twenty Two
Degree project had listed B23D as its connection point circuit, which put Mesa in direct
competition with Samsung's superior treatment to access this limited transmission
capacity.580
520. Likeness between Mesa and Samsung and their similar efforts to obtain PPAs and
transmission capacity is further evidenced by the commonality of the GEIA and FIT
Contracts. The GEIA provides that, "Such PPA [entered into by the OPA] shall be
substantially in the form of the FIT Contract used by the OPA at the time such PPA is
being entered into…".581
521. After the GEIA was concluded, the Minister of Energy directed the OPA that the Power
Purchase Agreements entered into with the Korean Consortium should be "substantially
576 Declaration of Colin Edwards in Support of Motion to Quash, March 12, 2012, at para. 7 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0184); and "Q: …there's a limited amount of transmission capacity, right? A: Correct." Transcript of Colin Edwards Deposition In Re Application of Mesa Power Group, LLC, page 64 lines 10‐12 (August 3, 2012) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0131) ; Colin Edwards is a Senior Developer at Pattern Renewable Holdings Canada ULC (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0184)
577 Declaration of Zohrab Mawani, at para. 10 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0406) 578 Transcript of Colin Edwards Deposition In Re Application of Mesa Power Group, LLC, pages 185, Lines 6‐17
(August 3, 2012) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0224) 579 Email from Lee‐Jeong Tack (Samsung) to Carolyn Calwell (MOE), cc Jonathan Norman (MOE) and Garry
McKeever (MOE), July 26, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0208) 580 Online FIT Application for Twenty Two Degree, June 17, 2011, at p. 3 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0155) 581 Green Energy Investment Agreement, January 21, 2010, Article 9.1 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0322)
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similar to those under the OPA's FIT Contract and the FIT Program Rules."582 The reliance
on the FIT Program was contemplated from the beginning, as evidenced by the minutes
of the negotiating meetings between the OPA and the Korean Consortium, which state,
for example, that "[t]he FIT contract should act as the template for all PPAs applicable to
all five phases [of the GEIA]…".583
522. Korean Consortium projects were also subject to similar conditions as FIT proponents
concerning, among other things, land access, documentation, domestic content,
quarterly status reports, and waiver forms. The K2 Wind Project Power Purchase
Agreement, under the GEIA, states:
"Each power purchase agreement shall be consistent with the GEIA and incorporate its relevant provisions and be substantially similar to the FIT Contract with such necessary modifications as are required to reflect the terms of the GIEA."584
523. As discussed in the negotiations, the terms of the FIT Program's Power Purchase
Agreements and its conditions were used as the template. Like a Power Purchase
Agreement awarded through the FIT Program,
524. Other similarities between the GEIA and FIT Contracts include:
a)
582 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to OPA, April 1, 2010
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0079) 583 OPA Negotiations with Korean Consortium Draft Meeting Minutes Meeting #1: June 23, 2010 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0151) 584 Green Energy Investment Agreement, January 21, 2010, section 7.3(c) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0322) 585 K2 Wind Project Power Purchase Agreement between Ontario Power Authority and K2 Wind Ontario Limited
Partnership, August 3, 2011, Section 2.4(g) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0287) 586 K2 Wind Project Power Purchase Agreement between Ontario Power Authority and K2 Wind Ontario Limited
Partnership, August 3, 2011, Exhibit D (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0287) ; Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Contract (FIT Contract) Version 1.5, June 3, 2011, Exhibit D (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0263); and Green Energy Investment Agreement, January 21, 2010, section 7.3(c) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0322)
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b)
c) The Korean Consortium is required to submit to the OPA "connection details and
evidence of necessary Access Rights as specified in Section 3.1(d) and (e) of the FIT
Rules…".588
525. Likeness is also apparent from the fact that the while it was negotiating the GEIA with
the Ministry of Energy, the Korean Consortium used the FIT Contracts as a basis for its
negotiation, demonstrating that not only were Mesa and the Korean Consortium
competing for the same transmission capacity, but the Korean Consortium was working
to the very contract that Mesa was expecting to be awarded.
526. A July 8, 2009 email from Jonathan Norman, a representative from the Ministry of
Energy to Samsung, stated,
Suggesting that it was not
content to proceed under the terms of the FIT Program, in an August 7, 2009
negotiation meeting the Korean Consortium said
527. On September 2, 2009, Hagen Lee, one of Samsung's lead negotiators of the GEIA
requested a meeting with the MOE to learn about the FIT Program:
"We have been studying the FIT rules, contracts, and exhibits drafts. We would like to understand the process better so that we can make a sound decision regarding project development strategy which will tie in closely with our FA as well. Who would be the best person to give us the latest details and walk us through the process?"591
528. Like circumstances between Mesa and the Korean Consortium are further evidenced by
the Korean Consortium seeking to obtain GEIA renewable energy Power Purchase
Agreements for projects that had already submitted FIT applications, increasing the
587 K2 Wind Project Power Purchase Agreement between Ontario Power Authority and K2 Wind Ontario Limited
Partnership, August 3, 2011, Exhibit F (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0287) ; Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Contract (FIT Contract) Version 1.5, June 3, 2011, Exhibit F (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0263)
588 Green Energy Investment Agreement, January 21, 201, Article 9.1 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0322) 589 Email from Jonathan Norman, Ministry of Energy, to Gy Yoo and Hagen Lee, July 8, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0334) 590 Draft Minutes/Action Items, KC/MEI Negotiation Team Meeting, August 7, 2009, at p. 2 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0329) 591 Email from Hagen Lee to Samira Viswanathan and Pearl Ing, September 2, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits
at C‐0338)
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Korean Consortium's ability to acquire a larger portion of Ontario's fixed transmission
capacity to the detriment of the applicants who remained in the FIT process.
529.
530. The Korean Consortium and its partners also sought to purchase wind power projects
from Mesa, which further indicates the extent to which they were in competition and in
like circumstances. These attempts took place in 2010 and 2011.593
B. Canada Provided Better Treatment to the Korean Consortium
531. The members of the Korean Consortium, and their joint venture partners, were treated
in a more favourable manner that was not available to Mesa. Whereas Mesa was left to
compete for transmission capacity through the FIT process, the Korean Consortium was
able to bypass all requirements and any competition from its renewable energy
competitors. Instead of being subject to the same regulatory process and scrutiny as
Mesa and other FIT applicants, the Korean Consortium negotiated in secret with the
Government of Ontario for guaranteed transmission capacity within Ontario's grid at a
guaranteed price, with room for an adder, and it did so on an expedited basis. The GEIA
gave the Korean Consortium the ability to not only jump the queue, but in the end,
undermined Mesa's opportunity for a FIT contract. Without Mesa ever knowing, the
Korean Consortium poached transmission capacity for its own projects, by being able to
choose its desired connection points, at the expense of Mesa.
532. In June 2008, Samsung and KEPCO approached the Ministry of Energy and proposed a
major investment in Ontario's renewable energy sector.594 This led to the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") between the Korean Consortium and the
Government of Ontario on December 12, 2008.595 The discussions intensified in June
592 Email from Frank Davis (Pattern Energy) to Susan Kennedy (OPA), August 2, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0280) 593 Email from Zohrab Mawani (Samsung) to Kathryn Freimanis (Leader Wind), September 2, 2010 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0085); Email from Zohrab Mawani to Mark Ward, September 2, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0397); Email from Zohrab Mawani to Mark Ward, September 3, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0395); Email from Zohrab Mawani to Mark Ward, September 23, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0396); Email from Zohrab Mawani to Mark Ward, September 15, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0393) ; CWS ‐ Robertson, at para. 30; Declaration of Colin Edwards, March 12, 2012, at para. 21 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0184)
594 2011 Auditor General's Report, "Electricity Sector – Renewable Energy initiatives", at p. 108 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228)
595 This MOU is referenced in the Recitals of the Draft Framework Agreement. Draft Framework Agreement by and Among Her Majesty The Queen In Right of Ontario, Korea Electric Power Corporation and Samsung C&T Corporation, September 25, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0328)
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2009 when Samsung representatives met with Ministry of Energy officials, including
Minister Smitherman;596 a few weeks later the Energy Minister visited Samsung
headquarters in South Korea.597 During this time, the Korean Consortium also engaged in
communication with, and received special assistance from, Ministry of Energy officials
on such matters as regulatory approvals,598 planning, and development.599
533. Formal negotiations towards an agreement began in late July 2009.600 In the meetings,
the Ministry of Energy discussed with the Korean Consortium details of the soon‐to‐be
launched FIT Program. Indeed, Ministry of Energy officials stated that one of their
objectives for the FIT Program was that it "support" any agreement with the Korean
Consortium.601
534. On September 29, 2009, the ongoing negotiations between the government and the
Korean Consortium were publicly announced, and the Cabinet was briefed on the
details.602 The parties signed a Framework Agreement in late October 2009603, and on
January 21, 2010 the Green Energy Investment Agreement ("GEIA") was signed at a
public ceremony.604
535. The GEIA "gave the Consortium special access to the Ontario electricity market through
Power Purchase Agreements for energy obtained through renewable energy sources."605
In the months leading up to the GEIA, , the Korean Consortium was able to negotiate the
terms of the Agreement, and were able to secure far more favourable terms than was
made available to other renewable energy proponents. Among these more favourable
terms were access to an additional price adder called the Economic Development
Adder, guaranteed priority access to the transmission system, additional force majeure
596 Agenda for meeting with Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, June 3, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0323) 597 Letter from Saad Rafi, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure to Cheong‐Hwan Kim, Samsung C&T Corporation,
June 18, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0324) 598 Email from lng, Pearl (MEI) to GY Yoo, July 6, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0325) 599 Email from Jonathan Norman (MEl) to GY Yoo, Hagen Lee, cc Rhonda Wright‐Hilbig (MEl), Pearl lng (MEl), Karen
Slawner (MEl), Faruq Remtulla (MEl), July 8, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0334) ; Briefing Note, "Transmission and Distribution Considerations for Korean Consortium ‐ Purchase of Existing Projects Proposal", July 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0326)
600 Samsung Consortium/MEl Negotiation, ‘‘Kick‐Off'‘ Meeting, July 28, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0327)
601 Draft Minutes/Action Items, KC/MEI Negotiation Team Meeting, August 7, 2009, at p. 1 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0329)
602 2011 Auditor General's Report, "Electricity Sector – Renewable Energy initiatives", at p. 91 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228)
603 Email from Mohamed Dhanani (Ministry of Energy) to Hagen Lee, October 1, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0339) The signing of the Framework Agreement was confirmed for October 29, 2009.
604 Green Energy Investment Agreement, January 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0322) 605 Declaration of Zohrab Mawani, August 15, 2013, at para. 7 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0406)
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protections, assistance with aboriginal consultation and engagement, and the right to
waive the OPA's ability to terminate the contract.
536. By reserving transmission capacity for the Korean Consortium, Mesa was adversely
affected; the transmission capacity set‐aside precluded Mesa from being awarded a
contract.
i. The Government of Ontario reserved preferential transmission capacity for the Korean Consortium
537. Under the GEIA, the Government of Ontario guaranteed the Korean Consortium priority
access to 2,500 MW of Ontario's fixed transmission capacity606. This transmission would
be used over five phases, with each phase consisting of 400 MW of wind energy and 100
MW of solar energy. Whereas other renewable energy proponents had to compete for
available transmission capacity, the Government of Ontario reserved transmission
capacity for the Korean Consortium.
538. While the Korean Consortium was guaranteed priority access to 500 MW of
transmission capacity in the Bruce region, Mesa was required to compete in an unlevel
playing field for the remaining capacity.
539. On September 30, 2009, four months before the GEIA was signed, the Minister of
Energy directed the OPA to "hold in reserve 240 MW of transmission capacity in
Haldimand County and a total of 260 MW of transmission capacity in Essex County and
the Municipality of Chatham‐Kent" for the Korean Consortium's Phase 1 Projects.607 This
provision was included in the GEIA.608
540. On September 17, 2010, in addition to the 260 MW and 240 MW already set aside in
Haldimand County and Essex County, the Minister of Energy further directed the OPA to
hold in reserve "500 MW of transmission capacity to be made available in the Bruce
area,"609 which undermined Mesa's ability to obtain a PPA in the Bruce area.
541. In the FIT Rankings that were published on December 21, 2010, the OPA stated that
there was "1200 MW of additional capability" which would be made available on the
Bruce to Milton line and would "be allocated during the ECT" process"610. As directed by
606 Green Energy investment Agreement, January 21, 2010, Article 3 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0322) 607 Letter from George Smitherman (Minister of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to OPA, September 30,
2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0105) 608 Green Energy investment Agreement, January 21, 2010, Article 7.3(b) and (c) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0322) 609 Letter from Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, September 17,
2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0119) 610 Ontario Power Authority, Priority ranking for First Round FIT Contracts, December 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule
of Exhibits at C‐0073)
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the Minister of Energy,611 750 MW worth of contracts were awarded in the Bruce Region
on July 4, 2011.612 In the meantime, an additional 500 MW of transmission capacity had
already been reserved for the Korean Consortium.
542. On the same day, the OPA released updated rankings which demonstrated that Mesa's
TTD and Arran projects were in the top 415 MW of projects for the Bruce Region
following contract awards.613 It is therefore clear, that had it not been for the 500 MW
reserved for the Korean Consortium, Mesa would have been awarded a contract
through the FIT Program.
543. Following these contract awards, Mesa received an email from a senior representative
at Pattern, George Hardie, which acknowledged that the reservation of transmission
capacity for the Korean Consortium impaired Mesa's ability to receive a contract on July
4, 2011:
"I am writing to let you know that we were surprised to see that your Arran and 22 Degree sites did not secure FIT contracts – as we were pretty sure you'd get contracts for at least one and probably both of the sites. And, on a personal level, I'm genuinely disappointed for you guys. I can say, however, with 100% certainty that our current POI's did not have any impact on the FIT award outcome – although the Samsung 500 MW transmission allocation obviously didn't help matters."614 [emphasis added]
544. In his sworn declaration, Zohrab Mawani confirmed that "Samsung Korea's guaranteed
access to transmission capacity under the GEIA allowed Samsung Korea to be in a better
competitive position than those companies without guaranteed transmission access,
like Mesa Power Group."615
545. The preferential treatment afforded to the members of the Korean Consortium through
its guaranteed transmission access also was noted by other renewable energy
proponents. In a meeting with the Ministry of Energy in February 2010, representatives
from LDK Solar complained that the Korean Consortium's priority access enabled it to
"jump the queue" ahead of other proponents to acquire capacity.616
546. Indeed, government officials themselves acknowledged the preferential treatment
offered by the priority access provision of the GEIA. In an internal Q & A sheet from April
611 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, June 3,
2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0046) 612 Ontario Power Authority, "FIT Contract Offers for the Bruce‐Milton Capacity Allocation Process", July 4, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0292) 613 Ontario Power Authority, "FIT Car Priority Ranking by Region", July 4, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0293) 614 Email from George Hardie (Pattern Energy) to Cole Robertson (Mesa), July 11, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0038) 615 Declaration of Zohrab Mawani, at para. 10, August 15, 2013 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0406) 616 Meeting Notes, LDK Solar and Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, February 25, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0215)
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2010, the Ministry of Energy entertained such hypothetical questions from FIT
proponents as: "How can the [GEIA] be justified particularly since KC not only gets the
transmission capacity without competing for it but also receives a higher payment for
the power it generates?"617
547. Furthermore, in a December 2010 meeting with NextEra, the Deputy Minister of Energy
stated that any deal given to an energy proponent similar to that given the Korean
Consortium would "require bumping other projects already in the queue for the FIT
program to accommodate them", acknowledging that this was the effect of the
Agreement with the Korean Consortium.618
548. Government officials also were keenly aware that any set‐aside of capacity for the
Korean Consortium through a Ministerial Direction would be perceived by FIT
proponents as preferential treatment. For instance, a May 20th presentation prepared
by the Ministry of Energy states that an "[a]nnouncement of another set‐aside for the
Korean Consortium will likely bring up criticism of preferential treatment for KC."619
549. Under the GEIA, the Korean Consortium was entitled to receive an additional increase to
the size of its specific renewable energy projects.
550. In section 3.4 of the GEIA, the Korean Consortium would be entitled to an increase in
particular projects of either 10% or 20% depending on certain circumstances. All of
these increases were capped at a maximum transmission allocation for the members of
the Korean Consortium of 2500 MW. This increase was highly unusual excersize of
favourable treatment only provided to the members of the Korean Consortium despite
the fact that at the time of the signature of the GEIA, the Korean Consortium had no
actual applications for renewable energy projects pending in Ontario.
551. Section 3.4 states:
The Korean Consortium may adjust the Targeted Generation Capacity for each Phase of the Project specified in Articles 3.1 and 3.2 within the range of plus or minus ten percent (10%) upon reasonable notice to the Government of Ontario, and subject to Article 16.8. the Parties acting reasonably, may agree to amend the Targeted Generation Capacity for each Phase of the Project within the range of plus or minus twenty percent (20%), in each case based on such factors as technical evaluations, the availability of Transmission System access and design capacity, site location and characteristics, availability of suitable land, availability of necessary equipment,
617 Feed‐In Tariff Program, Key Messages and Questions & Answers, April 6, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits
at C‐0110) 618 Email from Andrew Mitchell (Ministry of Energy) to Craig MacLennan (Ministry of Energy) and Candace Major
(Ministry of Energy), December 22, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0066) 619 Draft Issues Management Plan, Bruce‐Milton IPA Announcement, May 20, 2011, at p. 2 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0193); see also Draft Questions and Answers, Bruce‐to‐Milton IPA Announcement, May 20, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0192)
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permitting and the then current economic circumstances, subject to Targeted Generation Capacity of 2,500 MW overall for the Project.
552. Under Section 3.4, the members of the Korean Consortium were entitled to modify the
terms of Power Purchase Agreements. Proponents seeking FIT contracts had no such
entitlement.
553. In addition, under Section 3.4, the members of the Korean Consortium were entitled to
modify the size of their power projects plus or minus ten percent simply by providing
notice to the Government of Ontario. By comparison, proponents who receive power
purchase agreements under the FIT Program were not entitled to unilaterally increase
the size of their projects.
554. The Witness Statement of Cole Robertson confirms that Mesa would have gladly utilized
adjacent lands and increased the size of its wind power projects in Ontario by an
additional ten percent if the terms of the power purchase program with Ontario under
the FIT had permitted it to do so.620
ii. The Korean Consortium received better contract price for energy
555. Under the GEIA, the Korean Consortium was entitled to receive an additional contract
price per kilowatt hour ("kWh"), called the Economic Development Adder.621
556. The Economic Development Adder provided that the Korean Consortium was entitled to
receive an additional 0.5 cents per kWh for wind generation to a maximum of $437
million. The Economic Development Adder was ""in consideration of the Korean
Consortium's attraction of Manufacturing Plants to the Province of Ontario..."622
557. The terms of the GEIA also guaranteed that the benefits of the Economic Development
Adder would be bestowed exclusively on the Korean Consortium. Article 8.7 of the GEIA
provided that, the Government of Ontario "shall not provide...to any other renewable
energy project or developer the benefit of an economic development adder or similar
incentive which is greater than the Economic Development Adder..."623 The standard FIT
contract, for which Mesa was competing, did not include an additional contract price.
558. In the GEIA Amending Agreement of July 29, 2011, the Government of Ontario reduced
the Economic Development Adder for wind generation to 0.27 cents per kWh, to a
620 CWS ‐ Robertson, at para. 66. 621 Green Energy investment Agreement, January 21, 2010, Article 9.3 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0322) 622 Green Energy Investment Agreement, January 21, 2010, Article 8.3 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0322) 623 Green Energy Investment Agreement, January 21, 2010, Article 8.7 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0322)
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maximum payout of $110 million.624 This reduction in the Economic Development Adder
was negotiated in exchange for the Government of Ontario allowing the Korean
Consortium to extend its contract deadlines.625 In contrast, FIT applicants were not
granted opportunity to miss deadlines or renegotiate terms.
iii. The Korean Consortium was able to purchase the projects of unsuccessful FIT Applicants
559. In addition to reserving capacity for the Korean Consortium, the Government of Ontario
also provided it with information on and methods for
interconnecting.626 As Zohrab Mawani has affirmed, the GEIA set out that the
Government of Ontario was required to "provide the Korean Consortium
with...assistance with the selection of connection points on the transmission grid with
sufficient transmission capacity."627 Such assistance was not provided to other
renewable energy proponents, like Mesa.
560. In his deposition, Colin Edwards stated that Pattern, the joint venture partner of the
Korean Consortium, had the opportunity to select the best circuits after examining
where other FIT Contract holders connected. He also claimed that once Pattern had
selected an interconnect point, the Korean Consortium could look for lower ranked
projects to purchase:
Q: Did you look at the public information of where your competitors wanted to do interconnection points when selecting your won interconnection points for the GEIA project?
A: We had an awareness of where different parties ranked on the publicly available list when we made our interconnection point selections.
Q: And how would that affect your decision, the ranking?
A: We would ‐‐ parties who were ranked higher on the list would be more likely to stay in the queue in hopes of keeping their project and receiving a FIT contract, knowing that there was transmission capacity coming to this area.
Q: And the lower ones would be low‐hanging fruit, right?
A: The lower ranked parties would have a lesser chance to get a FIT contract.
Q: And it would be more easily able to buy their assets in order to fulfill your obligations under the GEIA as a joint venture, correct?
624 Green Energy Investment Agreement – Amending Agreement, By and Among Her Majesty The Queen In Right Of
Ontario as represented by the Minister of Energy And Korea Electric Power Corporation And Samsung C&T Corporation, July 29, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0282)
625 Transcript of Colin Edwards Deposition In Re Application of Mesa Power Group, LLC, at p. 107 (August 3, 2012) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0404)
626 Draft Summary of Framework Agreements, Ledger for Discussion, August 13, 2009, at p. 10 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0331)
627 Declaration of Zohrab Mawani, at para. 14, August 15, 2013 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0406)
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A: Perhaps.628
561. The Ministry of Energy also assisted the Korean Consortium in identifying renewable
energy projects for purchase. In a July 2009 Briefing Note, the Ministry of Energy
identified a list of projects that the Korean Consortium could consider. This briefing
note included information about project locations, connection requirements for the
projects, as well as the estimated cost to connect the project to the transmission
system.629
562. Moreover, the Korean Consortium used its guaranteed transmission access to obtain
contracts for projects that were unsuccessful in obtaining contracts through the FIT
Program.630 These projects did not receive contracts through the FIT Program because
there was insufficient transmission capacity and they were ranked too low to receive
contract offers. Because Mesa was not granted priority access to the transmission
system, it did not have the opportunity to purchase such 631
a)
Armow was originally ranked 24th in the Bruce region, well behind Mesa's projects.
b)
The
K2 project was originally ranked 27th in the Bruce Region, 634 behind Mesa's projects.
iv. Samsung delayed the ECT test that was never carried out
563. Samsung's priority access to transmission capacity meant that Ontario was forced to
delay the ECT tests, a stated component of the FIT Program that Mesa relied on in
submitting its application. The delay accommodated Samsung's hand‐picking its
projects' connection points, and the governmental decision to abandon the ECT
628 Transcript of Colin Edwards Deposition In Re Application of Mesa Power Group, LLC, page 186, 24‐187:17
(August 3, 2012) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0244) 629 Briefing Note, "Transmission and Distribution Considerations for Korean Consortium ‐ Purchase of Existing
Projects Proposal", July 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0326) 630 Transcript of Colin Edwards Deposition In Re Application of Mesa Power Group, LLC, at page 187 (August 3,
2012) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0244) 631 Transcript of Colin Edwards Deposition In Re Application of Mesa Power Group, LLC, at page 187, lines 9‐10
(August 3, 2012) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0244) 632 Armow Wind Project Power Purchase Agreement between Ontario Power Authority and SP Ontario Wind
Development LP, August 2, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0286) 633 K2 Wind Project Power Purchase Agreement between Ontario Power Authority and K2 Wind Ontario Limited
Partnership, August 3, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0287) 634 Ontario Power Authority, Priority ranking for First Round FIT Contracts, December 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule
of Exhibits at C‐0073)
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precluded Mesa from being awarded a FIT Contract, as transmission capacity that it
expected to be available was not.
564. The priority transmission access granted to the Korean Consortium resulted in the delay
of the ECT and of FIT contract awards in the Bruce Region. This was yet another instance
of discrimination against Mesa in favour of Samsung that of which Mesa was not aware.
565. According to the plan set out by the OPA and communicated to Mesa, initial FIT
contracts were to be awarded in three stages.635 The first round of contracts was to be
awarded following a TAT for projects applied for during the FIT launch period (between
October and November 2010). The second round of contracts was to be awarded
following a second TAT for projects applied for during the second round of FIT
applications (between December 2009 and June 2010). The third round of contracts was
to be awarded following an ECT encompassing all FIT projects that had not been
awarded contracts in the first two rounds.
566. The first round of FIT contracts was awarded in April 2010.636 Mesa's TTD and Arran
projects were demonstrably eligible for contracts during this round, but did not receive
any. Thus, they awaited the ECT for the next opportunity to receive FIT contracts. The
ECT process could not begin until the TAT for second round FIT applicants was
completed.637
567. Because transmission capacity had been reserved for the Korean Consortium in the
Bruce Region638, and because, the GEIA, access to this capacity was to be "priority"639,
the OPA could not run the TAT for second‐round FIT applicants in the Bruce Region
without the Korean Consortium first finalizing the connection points for its Phase 2
projects in the Region. As stated by Ministry of Energy official Cieran Bishop,
KC's commitment on connection points before the release of TAT…assure their priority access is
factored into transmission availability – so any contract awards that come out of TAT will take
KC's phases to date (1, 2, 3) into account.640
635 Ontario Power Authority presentation, "The Economic Connection Test Process", March 23, 2010, at p. 16
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0034) 636 Ontario Power Authority, News Release, "Ontario Announces 184 Large‐Scale Renewable Energy Projects", April
8, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0080) 637 Ontario Power Authority, Presentation, "The Economic Connection Test Process", March 23, 2010, at p. 16
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0034) 638 Letter from Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, September 17,
2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0119) 639 Green Energy Investment Agreement, January 21, 2010, section 7.3(c) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0322) 640 Email from Ceiran Bishop (Ministry of Energy) to Samira Viswanathan (Ministry of Energy) and Faruq Remtulla
(Ministry of Energy), November 18, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0159)
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568. Because the running of a TAT for second‐round FIT applicants was a necessary step to an
ECT, the Korean Consortium's finalization of connection points was a precondition for
running an ECT as well, and for the awarding of FIT contracts resulting from it.
569. The OPA originally communicated to Mesa that it would conduct the ECT in August
2010,641 however an ECT never occurred. Ontario's Auditor General determined the ECT
was delayed because the Korean Consortium had not finalized the connection points for
its Phase 2 projects in the Bruce Region.642
570. The Korean Consortium provided provisional connection points for its Phase 2 projects
to the OPA on September 30, 2010.643 This allowed the TAT for second‐round FIT
projects in the Bruce Region to begin. However, the process could not be completed,
and the ECT started, until the Korean Consortium provided final confirmation of its
connection points.644 This occurred on January 7, 2011.645
571. Even after the Korean Consortium submitted connection points for its projects in
January 2011, both government officials and the Korean Consortium did not regard
them as final. The Korean Consortium stated that
572. This latitude given to the Korean Consortium in regard to its connection points was a
source of consternation for some OPA officials. A few days after the Korean
Consortium's submission,
However, authorities do not appear to have followed
641 Ontario Power Authority, The Economic Connection Test, Approach, Metrics and Tests, May 19, 2010. Page 39
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0088); OPA, Program Update – FIT Program Timeline, June 1, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0235)
642 2011 Auditor General's Report, Chapter 3 – Electricity Sector – Renewable Energy Initiatives, at p. 116 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228)
643 Ministry of Energy Presentation, October 1, 2010, at p. 2 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0093) 644 Email from Kristin Jenkins (OPA) to Andrew Mitchell (Ministry of Energy) et al., November 22, 2010 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0071) 645 Email from Barbara Constantinescu (IESO) to Bob Chow (OPA), John Sabiston (Hydro One), January 11, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0070) 646 Email from Barbara Constantinescu (IESO) to Bob Chow (OPA), John Sabiston (Hydro One), January 11, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0070) 647 Email from Barbara Constantinescu (IESO) to Bob Chow (OPA), John Sabiston (Hydro One), January 11, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0070)
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573. Because the Korean Consortium failed to finalize its connection points in a timely
manner, the TAT for second‐round FIT applicants was not completed until the end of
February 2011 – more than two months later than anticipated649 – and the ECT for all FIT
applicants was never conducted.
574. That the Korean Consortium was the cause of the ECT delay. The resulting delay in the
awarding of FIT contracts is further attested to by Zohrab Mawani. Mr. Mawani states
that "PPAs under the FIT Program could only be awarded after manufacturing,
transmission access, and selection of site provisions in the GEIA were adequately
addressed", and observes that the failure of the Korean Consortium to resolve these
matters "effectively resulted in a freeze on other projects that were to receive contracts
under the FIT program."650
575. As observed by the Ontario Auditor General, the "commitment to the [Korean]
consortium affected the FIT contract allocation process and the timely connection of
renewable energy projects from other generators".651 While the OPA continually
demonstrated a willingness to accommodate the Korean Consortium's preferred
timeline for project acquisition and planning, Mesa was subject to continued schedule
changes and delays outside of their control and contrary to what they were led to
expect.
576. If the ECT process had not been delayed by the Korean Consortium and the process of
awarding FIT contracts had run as originally scheduled, Mesa would have received a FIT
contract so long as NextEra was not permitted to change connection points for its
projects in the West of London region.
577. The 500 MW of capacity in the Bruce Region reserved for the Korean Consortium also
prevented Mesa from receiving a FIT contract. If this capacity had been reserved for FIT
projects and allocated as part of the Bruce‐to‐Milton process, then Mesa would have
been awarded a FIT contract for both its TTD and Arran projects. Even after the June 3rd
rule change that allowed NextEra to move its Bluewater and Jericho projects to the
Bruce region, TTD and Arran were both within the top 1250 MW in the Bruce region and
648 Email from Lee‐Jeong Tack (Samsung) to Carolyn Calwell (MOE), cc Jonathan Norman (MOE) and Garry
McKeever (MOE), July 26, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0208) 649 Email from Kristin Jenkins (OPA) to Andrew Mitchell (Ministry of Energy) et al., November 22, 2010 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0071) 650 Declaration of Zohrab Mawani, August 15, 2013, at para. 32 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0406) 651 2011 Auditor General's Report, Chapter 3 – Electricity Sector – Renewable Energy Initiatives, at p. 116
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228)
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thus would have been able to be connect through the transmission capacity enabled in
the region by the Bruce‐to‐Milton line.652
v. Working Group meetings provided Samsung with preferred access and opportunities
578. After the GEIA was signed, the Korean Consortium was able to meet with Government
of Ontario representatives in Working Group meetings. These meetings were tasked
with resolving issues relating to implementing the GEIA, and providing technical
assistance that was not provided to FIT applicants. Participating government entities
included the Ministry of Energy, the OPA, the Independent Electricity System Operator,
Hydro One, the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the
Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, as well
as the Ontario Realty Corporation.653 Access to these meetings was reserved exclusively
for signatories of the GEIA, and government representatives. A participant in the
meetings pointed out that the Korean Consortium's competitors, "who were also
seeking PPAs from the OPA, were not allowed access to Working Group"654 meetings.
579. The Working Group meetings were set out under section 5.2 of the GEIA. The
responsibilities of the Working Group include:
a) recommending suitable sites for Phases 2 through 5;
b) "assisting and facilitating the Korean Consortium in securing rights of way for
connection to the Transmission System, through participation in a joint committee
to work on land owner issues";
c) "negotiating Aboriginal consultation/engagement protocols..."655
580. As Zohrab Mawani testifies, these meetings "addressed the business needs of the GEIA
partners, such as:
a) facilitating transmission access for renewable energy projects to be owned by
Samsung Canada and its partners;
b) available transmission capacity for renewable energy projects to be owned by
Samsung Canada and its partners;
652 Ontario Power Authority, "FIT CAR Priority Ranking by Region", July 4, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0293) 653 Declaration of Zohrab Mawani, August 15, 2013, at para. 30 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0406) 654 Declaration of Zohrab Mawani, August 15, 2013, at para. 33 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0406) 655 Green Energy investment Agreement, January 21, 2010, Article 7.3(b) and (c) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0322)
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c) which government officials could assist in obtaining required regulatory and
environmental approvals for renewable energy projects to be owned by Samsung
Canada and its partners;
d) which government officials could assist with aboriginal consultations for renewable
energy projects to be owned by Samsung Canada and its partners;
e) the Ontario government's approach to energy policies and programs;
f) suitable wind and solar project locations for the Korean Consortium; and
g) government‐owned lands that could be made available to the Korean
Consortium".656
vi. The Korean Consortium was able to increase its contract size
581. Under the GEIA, the Korean Consortium was permitted to adjust the generation capacity
for each Phase of the project by 10%. Section 3.4 of the GEIA states:
The Korean Consortium may adjust the Targeted Generation Capacity for each Phase of the Project specified in Articles and within the range of plus or minus ten percent (10%) upon reasonable notice to the Government of Ontario….657
582. Unlike the Korean Consortium, other renewable energy proponents like Mesa Power
were not able to increase their contract size. The Government of Ontario thereby
provided better treatment to the Korean Consortium by granting it greater flexibility in
making changes to its projects.
vii. Additional Government Assistance
583. The Government of Ontario provided the Korean Consortium with special assistance in
securing regulatory approvals that that was not provided to standard FIT applicants.
584. Under the GEIA, the Government of Ontario undertook to "facilitate the Korean
Consortium in obtaining necessary regulatory approvals and permits through the
Renewable Energy Facilitation Office of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure."658
While the services of the Renewable Energy Facilitation Office were made available to
all FIT Proponents, the speed with which the Ministry of Energy "fast‐track[ed]"659 the
Korean Consortium's regulatory approvals through the Working Group is significant and
constitutes more favourable treatment.
656 Declaration of Zohrab Mawani, August 15, 2013, at para. 30 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0406) 657 Green Energy Investment Agreement, January 21, 2010, Section 3.4 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0322) 658 Green Energy investment Agreement, January 21, 2010, Article 7.3(a) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0322) 659 Draft Summary of Framework Agreements, Ledger for Discussion, August 13, 2009, at p. 8 (Investor's Schedule
of Exhibits at C‐0331)
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585. At the direction of the Ministry of Energy, the government also established an
"Implementation Task Force", whose aim was to "ensure that the myriad of technical
and logistical issues can be resolved in a cooperative and efficient manner."660 The task
force was made up of representatives from the Ministry of Energy and the OPA, who
had requisite technical, legal, regulatory, and other relevant expertise. The
Implementation Task Force was made exclusively available to the Korean Consortium.
586. Through its Working Group, the Ontario government also committed to "[securing]
appropriate land sites" for 2000 MW of wind power, for Phases 2 through 5661.
587. The Government of Ontario further provided the Korean Consortium with special
assistance in its communications with Aboriginal groups and with the Ministry of
Aboriginal Affairs.662
This agreement was accelerated by the Government of
Ontario. While the Ministry of Energy would generally facilitate meetings with aboriginal
groups for all FIT proponents, the Korean Consortium had to assist it the Working
Group, which listed "negotiating aboriginal consultation/engagement protocols" among
its functions.664 The Ministry of Energy also
588. There were further instances of special assistance given to the Korean Consortium by
the Government of Ontario, which included:
a)
660 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to OPA, April 1, 2010
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0079) 661 Green Energy investment Agreement, January 21, 2010, Article 6.4 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0322) 662 Green Energy investment Agreement, January 21, 2010, Articles 5.2(i) and Article 10 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0322) 663 Email from Colin Edwards (Pattern Energy) to Michael Killeavy (OPA), May 8, 2012 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0288) 664 Green Energy Investment Agreement, January 21, 2010, Article 5.2(i) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0322) 665 Letter from Rick Jennings (Ministry of Energy) to Chief Allen MacNaughton (Six Nations), October 6, 2009
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0011)
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The Korean Consortium also received
b) The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT) made available a
team of officials to work with the Korean Consortium following the signing of the
GEIA. It provided the Korean Consortium "information on costs, labour
availability, transportation infrastructure, utilities, government programs, and
other key determinants of production", and used its contacts in the Ontario
economic development community to facilitate the Korean Consortium's
projects.668
c) Even prior to the GEIA, MEDT officials assisted the Korean Consortium in a wide
array of areas, including providing information regarding manufacturing
contacts,669 sites for prospective manufacturing facilities,670 and a letter for
Samsung officials to present at the customs border.671
C. Canada provided better treatment regarding exceptions to others
589. Canada has entered into investment treaties with Non‐NAFTA Party countries, with
which it has much less close economic integration than with the NAFTA Parties, for
example the Czech Republic, without any exception or limitation to obligations with
respect to government procurement.672 Canada is thereby offering better treatment to
investors and investments from Non‐NAFTA parties who are in like circumstances to
Mesa by not permitting exceptions to these Non‐NAFTA Party investors and
investments, and thereby not prohibiting local content performance requirements,
violations of national treatment or MFN treatment when there is government
procurement. This is a higher standard of investment protection, and NAFTA Article
1103 requires that Canada provide treatment equal to this better treatment be
provided to Mesa and its investments.
666 Letter from Rick Jennings (Ministry of Energy) to Chief Allen MacNaughton (Six Nations), October 6, 2009
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0011) 667 Email from Hagen Lee (Samsung) to Henry Chow (Ontario Realty Corporation) et al., March 16, 2010 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0012) 668 Email from John Langley (Ministry of Economic Development and Trade) to Hagen Lee (Samsung), February 5,
2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0014) 669 Email from John Langley (Ministry of Economic Development and Trade) to Hagen Lee (Samsung), July 3, 2009
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0015) 670 Email from John Langley (Ministry of Economic Development and Trade) to Hagen Lee (Samsung) and Lisa Qi
(Ministry of Economic Development and Trade), July 9, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0019) 671 Email from Pearl Ing to Hagen Lee, June 5, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0016) 672 Agreement Between Canada and the Czech Republic for the Promotion And Protection of Investments (2009)
("Canada‐Czech BIT") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐134)
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i. Negotiation of the Green Energy Investment Agreement
590. The relationship between the Government of Ontario and the Korean Consortium, and
its joint venture partners, constitutes better treatment than that provided to Mesa.
Such a collaborative relationship was never an opportunity for those vying for
transmission capacity through the transparent and public terms of the FIT Program, as
opposed to through the secret "back door" process under the GEIA.
591. Negotiations between the Korean Consortium and the Government of Ontario took
place before the GEIA was signed, and meetings took place on:
a) August 7, 2009673
b) August 10, 2009674
c) August 12, 2009675
d) October 29, 2009676
592. Through those negotiations, the Korean Consortium had special access to senior Ontario
government representatives. For example, in June 2009, then Minister of Energy George
Smitherman met with the Korean Consortium in South Korea.677 In addition to its
preferential access to senior government representatives, the Korean Consortium was
also given special and exclusive government assistance:
a) The Korean Consortium was able to expedite meetings through senior government
officials like the Ministry of the Environment's Director, Doris Dumais678.
b) The Korean Consortium was given the opportunity to discuss Renewable Energy
Approval Timelines with the Ministry of Energy.679
c) The Ministry of Energy made a recommendation that Samsung retain a preferred
local Canadian law firm, McCarthy Tetrault, as its legal counsel.680
673 Draft Minutes/Action Items, KC/MEI Negotiation Team Meeting, August 7, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits
at C‐0329) 674 Draft Minutes/Action Items, KC/MEI Negotiation Team Meeting, August 10, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0330) 675 Draft Minutes/Action Items, KC/MEI Negotiation Team Meeting, August 12, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0332) 676 The Korean Consortium signed the Framework Agreement with the Government of Ontario on October 29,
2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0339) 677 Letter from Minister Smitherman to Cheol‐Woo Lee, July 13, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0335) 678 Email from Pearl Ing, Ministry of Energy, to Hagen Lee, Samsung, September 1, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0337) 679 Email from Hagen Lee to Pearl Ing (Ministry of Energy), October 27, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0333)
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d) The Ministry of Energy arranged for the OPA to brief Samsung on the FIT Program
before the Program was officially launched. This meeting allowed Samsung to "run
different scenarios" by the OPA, and have questions regarding the operation of the
FIT Program answered.681
593. The Korean Consortium was given the opportunity to negotiate the terms of its Power
Purchase Agreements with the OPA. The Minister of Energy directed the OPA to
negotiate agreements with the Korean Consortium in his April 1, 2010 Direction.682 After
this, the OPA had a series of meetings with representatives of the Korean Consortium to
negotiate the terms of its Power Purchase Agreements.683 And then had subsequent
meetings to implement the GEIA684. In addition to the ongoing Power Purchase
Agreement Negotiations, meetings took place on:
a) June 23, 2010
b) July 7, 2010
c) July 20, 2010
d) August 18, 2010
e) September 22, 2010
f) December 8, 2010
g) February 1, 2011
h) March 4, 2011
i) May 6, 2011
680 Email from Richard Ogden, Ministry of Energy, to Hagen Lee, August 14, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0336) 681 Email from Hagen Lee to Pearl Ing (Ministry of Energy), September 3, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0338) 682 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to OPA, April 1, 2010
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0079) 683 OPA Negotiations with Korean Consortium Draft Meeting Minutes Meeting #1: June 23, 2010 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0151) ; OPA Negotiations with Korean Consortium, Draft Meeting Minutes Meeting #2: July 7, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0115) ; July 20, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0150) ; August 18, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0274) ; OPA Negotiations with Korean Consortium: Draft Meeting Minutes, Meeting #5: September 22, 2010, Undated (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0254) ; OPA Negotiations with Korean Consortium, Draft Meeting Minutes, Meeting #6: December 8, 2010, Undated (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0271) ; OPA Negotiations with Korean Consortium, Draft Meeting Minutes, Meeting #7: February 1, 2011, Undated (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0272) ; OPA Negotiations with Korean Consortium, Draft Meeting Minutes, Meeting #8: March 4, 2011, Undated (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0273) ; OPA Negotiations with Korean Consortium, Agenda, Meeting #9: May 6, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0128)
684 Transcript of Colin Edwards Deposition In Re Application of Mesa Power Group, LLC, pages 84‐85 (August 3, 2012) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0407)
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594. The Korean Consortium's preferential access to senior government representatives as
evidenced by the negotiation of the GEIA was not made available to other renewable
energy proponents, like Mesa.
595. Similarly, the ability to negotiate Power Purchase Agreements was not made available
to other renewable energy proponents like Mesa; FIT proponents were only offered a
Standard FIT Contract, with no opportunity of negotiation.
ii. The Korean Consortium was granted a force majeure provision
596. As a result of their negotiations, the Korean Consortium was secured more
advantageous terms in its Power Purchase Agreements than those awarded through the
FIT Program. One example of this is evidenced by the Korean Consortium's ability to
secure additional force majeure protections. The force majeure provisions in the Korean
Consortium's PPAs
The force majeure provisions in the standard FIT contract did not include
such a clause.
iii. The Korean Consortium was granted beneficial Notice to Proceed provisions
597. Another benefit given to the Korean Consortium is found in its
Whereas
standard FIT applicants
which was not an opportunity
in the standard FIT Contract.688
iv. The Korean Consortium benefited through its Aboriginal Participation Level
598. The Korean Consortium was also able to receive additional benefits in its Power
Purchase Agreements with regard to the calculation of the Aboriginal Participation
Level. The Aboriginal Participation Level was an additional contract payment that a
proponent would be eligible for if its project contained a certain level of Aboriginal
685 South Kent Wind Project Power Purchase Agreement between Ontario Power Authority and South Kent Wind
LP, August 1, 2011, Section 10.3 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0281) 686 South Kent Wind Project Power Purchase Agreement between Ontario Power Authority and South Kent Wind
LP, August 1, 2011, Section 2.4(d) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0281) 687 South Kent Wind Project Power Purchase Agreement between Ontario Power Authority and South Kent Wind
LP, August 1, 2011, Section 2.4(d) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0281) 688 South Kent Wind Project Power Purchase Agreement between Ontario Power Authority and South Kent Wind
LP, August 1, 2011, Section 2.4(g) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0281)
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participation. Under its Power Purchase Agreements, the Korean Consortium was able
to have the economic interest of any person contribute to both the Aboriginal Price
Adder as well as the Community Participation Price Adder. The standard FIT Contract did
not permit the economic interest of one person to count toward both the Aboriginal
and Community Participation Adders. To the contrary, it said:
The Economic Interest of any Person contributing towards the Community Participation Level shall be excluded from the calculation of the Aboriginal Participation Level.689 [emphasis added]
599. This limitation was not included in the Korean Consortium's Power Purchase
Agreements. The Korean Consortium was therefore able to receive two additional price
adders, where under similar circumstances, other FIT proponents could only receive
one.
D. Establishment, Expansion, Conduct and Operation
600. NAFTA Article 1103 requires that the treatment must be with respect to the
establishment, acquisition, expansion, management, conduct, operation, and sale or
other disposition of investments. Article 1103 would by definition have to address the
establishment, expansion, conduct or operation of economic activity proposed by the
investor.
E. Conclusion
601. Canada has breached its obligations under NAFTA Article 1103 by providing better
treatment to foreign investments and foreign investors who are in like circumstances to
the Investor and its Investments.
602. The Investor and its Investments are in like circumstances to the general class of
applicants who competed for transmission capacity opportunity in the Ontario grid and
for renewable energy PPA opportunity in Ontario.
603. Canada has breached its most‐favoured nation treatment obligation in Article 1103 by
not treating the Investor and its Investment as favorably as investors and investments of
investors from other states.
604. Rather than providing treatment equal to the most favourable treatment available,
Canada actually provided the worst treatment possible to the Investor and its
Investment. By comparison, Canada provided more favorable treatment to investments
from other NAFTA Parties and non‐NAFTA Parties.
689 FIT Contract Version 1.5, at section 15.7 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0340)
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605. In these circumstances, the burden shifts to Canada to show that the difference in
treatment, both its nature and magnitude, can be fully justified by legitimate regulatory
considerations.
606. The Investor, and its Investment, have injury, loss, harm and damaage as a result of
Canada's failure to meet its Most Favoured Nation obligation.
607. Treatment with respect to applications for transmission capacity to generate renewable
energy was in relation the establishment, expansion, management, conduct or
operation of investments.
608. Thus Canada has therefore breached its NAFTA Article 1103 obligation to provide most
favoured nation treatment to Mesa and its investments.
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III. NATIONAL TREATMENT
609. Canada did not ensure that it provided treatment as favorable as that provided to
Investments of Investors from Canada who were in like circumstances to Mesa. As a
result, Canada did not meet its obligation to provide National Treatment to the
Investment and to its Investor under Article 1102:
a) Mesa and its investments were in like circumstances with Pattern Renewable
Holdings, Canada and Boulevard Associates Canada;
b) Pattern Renewable Holdings Canada and Boulevard Associates Canada were
provided better treatment than Mesa, including by being given preferential access
to transmission capacity in Ontario's power grid, preferential treatment in the
operation of the FIT Program and the opportunity to obtain Power Purchase
Agreements; and
c) The better treatment was "with respect to the establishment, acquisition,
expansion, management, conduct, operation, and sale or other disposition" of
Mesa's investment.690
A. Pattern Renewable Holdings Canada, is in like circumstances with the Investor.
610. Pattern Renewable Holdings Canada ULC (Pattern Canada) is a wholly‐owned Canadian
subsidiary of California‐based Pattern Energy Group.
611. Like Mesa, Pattern Canada sought Power Purchase Agreements from the Ontario
government and were in competition for access to Ontario's limited transmission
capacity. In all aspects of their business activities, the companies competed for the same
opportunity of obtaining renewable energy PPAs in the same regulatory system
overseen by the OPA.
612. Pattern Canada, a Toronto‐based company, has acknowledged to being in direct
competition with Mesa for Power Purchase Agreements from the OPA.691 As a
competitor within the FIT Program, investments owned by Pattern Canada applied for at
least seven FIT contracts in the West of London Region, and one project in the Niagara
690 NAFTA, Article 1102. 691 Declaration of Colin Edwards, March 12, 2012 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0184); Colin Edwards states
"I am a Senior Developer for Pattern Renewable Holdings Canada ULC, based in Toronto, Ontario" and Q:…"Pattern is a competitor of Mesa for – for Power Purchase Agreements, right, in Ontario. A: Correct."; Transcript of Colin Edwards Deposition In Re Application of Mesa Power Group, LLC, page 63 Lines 19‐23 (August 3, 2012) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0199)
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Region.692 FIT applications from Pattern Canada's investment were being ranked on the
same criteria and involved in the same regulatory process as Mesa's projects. When
Pattern joined with Samsung, it was still seeking Power Purchase Agreements from the
OPA, as confirmed by Colin Edwards:
"Pattern's affiliate, Pattern Ontario Wind Development Inc., did enter into a joint venture agreement with Samsung Renewable Energy Inc., under which the two companies agreed to jointly develop several wind farms in the Ontario region with an aggregate nameplate capacity (i.e., the output if producing at full capacity) of up to 1200 MW."693
613. Pattern Canada clearly competed with Mesa for access to the limited amount of
electricity transmission capacity which was set aside for Samsung and its partners. Colin
Edwards explained,
"Samsung has priority access for an additional 800 MW of wind projects under the Green Energy Investment Agreement, and will be selecting one or more partners over the coming year. Pattern will be in direct competition with Mesa and similar companies for possible new joint venture opportunities with Samsung and/or others."694
i. Pattern Canada received Better Treatment than Mesa
614. Under the GEIA, members of the Korean Consortium were able to partner with investors
or other strategic partners for the development of wind and solar projects.695 Samsung
partnered with Pattern Canada, and it thereby received the benefits of the GEIA.
615. In the spring of 2010, Samsung entered into a joint venture with Pattern, "under which
the two companies agreed to jointly develop several wind farms…with an aggregate
nameplate capacity (i.e. output at full capacity) of up to 1200MW."696 Pattern explained
its role in the GEIA and relationship with Samsung in an email
692 Ontario Power Authority, Priority ranking for First Round FIT Contracts, December 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule
of Exhibits at C‐0073); BWP is a Pattern subsidiary. Pattern received a contract for one of its West of London projects (Merlin) in 2010, which was later merged into a GEIA project.
693 Declaration of Colin Edwards, paragraph 9, March 12, 2012 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0184) 694 Declaration of Colin Edwards, paragraph 20, March 12, 2012 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0184) 695 The Green Energy Investment Agreement, January 21, 2010 at Section 4.1 says: "The Korean Consortium may
undertake each Phase of the Project through one or more entities (hereinafter individually referred to as a "Project Company") and may invite one or more investors, including … strategic partners, to the Project or a particular Phase of the Project…" Green Energy Investment Agreement, Article 4.1, January 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0322)
696 Declaration of Colin Edwards, March 12, 2012, paragraph 9 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0184)
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616. Prior to entering into the joint venture agreement with Samsung, Pattern Canada
submitted ten FIT applications for wind projects and was awarded a FIT contract on April
8, 2010.698
617. In 2010, Pattern elected to enter into an agreement with Samsung in lieu of pursuing
Power Purchase Agreements under the FIT Program. The FIT contract offered to Pattern
Canada was for Merlin, a wind project totalling 10 MW. When Pattern entered the joint
venture with Samsung, it was guaranteed 1,500 MW. This is a clear example of the
preferential treatment Pattern received through the GEIA. Colin Edwards acknowledged
that the GEIA provided better treatment to those seeking a PPA than the treatment
otherwise provided under the FIT. Mr. Edwards has stated:
"The fact that we assigned a joint venture agreement and elected to participate with Samsung is evidence that we thought this [the GEIA] was a better opportunity."699
618. Through its partnership with Samsung, Pattern Canada had privileged access to senior
government officials who facilitated the implementation of Pattern's projects. The key
benefits that Pattern Canada received through its partnership with Samsung were the
guarantee that Pattern Canada would receive PPAs and the ability to reserve
transmission capacity at specific points. In contrast, Mesa was required to invest
significant time and capital to develop projects and strategically select connection points
without such guarantees in what was ultimately a charade.
ii. Pattern Canada obtained PPA terms that were more favorable than the standard FIT contract available to proponents like Mesa Power
619. Pattern Canada attended various PPA Negotiation Meetings with the Korean
Consortium and the OPA. Representatives from Pattern Canada attended at least
such meetings. The purpose of the meetings was for the Korean Consortium to
negotiate the terms of its agreement with Ontario, and secure far more favourable
terms than was made available to other renewable energy proponents.700
697 Email from Colin Edwards (Pattern Energy) to David Lindsay (Ministry of Energy), July 5, 2011 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0276) 698 Transcript of Colin Edwards Deposition In Re Application of Mesa Power Group, LLC, page 48, Lines 4‐18 (August
3, 2012) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0201) 699 Colin Edwards Deposition transcript, Page 193 line 25‐ Page 194 line 3 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0229) 700 OPA Negotiations with Korean Consortium, Draft Meeting Minutes Meeting #1: June 23, 2010 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0151) ; OPA Negotiations with Korean Consortium, Draft Meeting Minutes Meeting #2: July 7, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0115) ; July 20, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0150) ; August 18, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0274) ; OPA Negotiations with Korean
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620. Zohrab Mawani, former Director of Business Development at Samsung Canada, has
sworn a declaration that "Colin Edwards, the chief representative of Pattern Energy in
Canada, told me that he was very happy to be able to attend the PPA negotiation
meetings while other competitors for PPAs were not."701
621. Pattern Canada utilized the negotiation meetings to secure advantageous contract
terms. The terms included a price "adder", enhanced force majeure protections, and
more flexibility about the notice to proceed, which were then included in Pattern's
projects at Armow,702 Kingsbridge II (K2),703 Grand Renewable Energy Park704 and South
Kent.705
622. In the result, Pattern Canada was able to cancel the FIT contract that it received for its
Merlin project, and was able to include the project as part of its South Kent wind
project.706 This allowed Pattern Canada to obtain a Power Purchase Agreement for that
project with all the preferential terms available under the GEIA.707 In addition to Merlin,
five of the other projects that Pattern Canada submitted to the FIT Program, that were
not offered contracts, also became part of its South Kent project.708
iii. Pattern received privileged information and assistance through meetings with senior Ontario Government Representatives
623. Through the Working Group meetings, Pattern Canada was given inside information by
the government that enabled Pattern and Samsung to "identify attractive wind projects
Consortium, Draft Meeting Minutes, Meeting #5: September 22, 2010, Undated (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0254) ; OPA Negotiations with Korean Consortium, Draft Meeting Minutes, Meeting #6: December 8, 2010, Undated (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0271) ; OPA Negotiations with Korean Consortium, Draft Meeting Minutes, Meeting #7: February 1, 2011, Undated (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0272) ; OPA Negotiations with Korean Consortium, Draft Meeting Minutes, Meeting #8: March 4, 2011, Undated (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0273) ; OPA Negotiations with Korean Consortium, Agenda, Meeting #9: May 6, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0128)
701 Declaration of Zohrab Mawani, August 15, 2013 at paragraph 37 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0406) 702 Armow Wind Project Power Purchase Agreement between Ontario Power Authority and SP Ontario Wind
Development LP, August 2, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0286) 703 K2 Wind Project Power Purchase Agreement between Ontario Power Authority and K2 Wind Ontario Limited
Partnership, August 3, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0287) 704 Haldimand Wind Project Power Purchase Agreement between Ontario Power Authority and Grand Renewable
Wind LP, August 2, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0285) 705 South Kent Wind Project Power Purchase Agreement between Ontario Power Authority and South Kent Wind
LP, August 2, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0284) 706 Email from Frank Davis (Pattern Energy) to Susan Kennedy (OPA), July 26, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits
at C‐0278) 707 Colin Edwards discussed the decision to move the Merlin contract into GEIA instead of FIT; see Transcript of
Colin Edwards Deposition In Re Application of Mesa Power Group, LLC, pages 137‐138 (August 3, 2012) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0222)
708 Transcript of Colin Edwards Deposition In Re Application of Mesa Power Group, LLC, page 48, line 21, ‐ page 49, line 21 (August 3, 2012) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0216)
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that were already under development in the Bruce Region of Ontario."709 Together with
Samsung, Pattern, and Pattern Canada identified and purchased projects in the Bruce
Region where the Mesa projects were located. Unlike Mesa, however, Pattern and
Pattern Canada were able to purchase and develop FIT projects in the Bruce Region with
a guarantee that transmission would be reserved at specific connection points for its
projects.
624. In addition to OPA negotiation meetings, Pattern Canada also attended meetings of the
GEIA Working Group, even though it was not a member of the Working Group. The
Working Group was defined in the GEIA:
"The Parties will establish a working group (the "Working Group"), comprised of eight (8) members, with equal membership from the Korean Consortium and the Government of Ontario, which will meet regularly throughout the term of this Agreement. Each of the Korean Consortium and the Government of Ontario shall name a Co‐chair of the Working Group. The Working Group may be informed by such persons with such expertise as are required by any Party from time to time, including persons affiliated with the Parties' agencies or affiliates" [emphasis added]710
625. Documents of the Pattern Energy Group reflect that, at a minimum, Pattern Canada
representatives attended Working Group Meetings in June 2010711, October 2010712, and
July 2011713. Zohrab Mawani has confirmed that Pattern "was permitted to attend some
meetings with the OPA".714
626. Mesa received less favorable treatment than Pattern Energy Group and Pattern Canada
as Mesa was not guaranteed Power Purchase Agreements, was not invited to regular
meetings with government representatives, was not provided government assistance in
selecting and developing wind projects, and was not given the opportunity to negotiate
contract terms that were superior to the standard FIT contract.
B. Boulevard Associates Canada, Inc. is in like circumstances with the Investor.
627. Boulevard Associates Canada, a Canadian subsidiary of NextEra, also sought FIT
contracts from the OPA in the same regions as Mesa, Bruce and the neighbouring West
of London Region.715 Colin Edwards has acknowledged that NextEra, and therefore
709 Declaration of Zohrab Mawani, August 15, 2013 at paragraph 31 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0406) 710 Green Energy Investment Agreement, January 21, 2010, Section 5.2 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0322) 711 Email from Pearl Ing (Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure) to Colin Edwards (Pattern Energy), June 16, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0275) 712 Email from Colin Edwards (Pattern Energy) to Travis Lusney (OPA), October 11, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0153) 713 Email from Shawn Cronkwright (OPA) to Woong Han (Samsung), July 25, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits
at C‐0277) 714 Declaration of Zohrab Mawani, August 15, 2013 at paragraph 34 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0406) 715 BWP is a Pattern subsidiary. Pattern received a contract for one of the West of London projects (Merlin) in
2010, which was later merged into a GEIA project. Ontario Power Authority, Priority ranking for First Round FIT
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Boulevard, were direct competitors to Mesa.716 The competition was so direct between
NextEra/Boulevard and Mesa that Boulevard specifically inquired of the OPA about
transmission capacity availability at points of interconnect that Mesa had applied for:
B22D and B23D:717
If a party wishes to interconnect to the Seaforth TS 115kV bus, is it fair to assume that the capability is 480 MW which is the sum of the circuit capacities of lines B22D and B23D? If not, what is the available capacity?
i. Canada Provided Preferential Treatment to Boulevard Associates Canada, Inc.
628. The Ontario Power Authority granted discriminatory and unfair preferences to
Boulevard Associates Canada, a direct competitor with Mesa Power.
629. On June 3, 2011 a Ministerial Direction was issued to the OPA by the Ministry of Energy.
The Direction required the OPA to implement a new Rule in the FIT Program permitting
projects to change their connection points between the West of London and the Bruce
transmission regions within a five‐day period from June 6‐10, 2011.
630. Boulevard had advance notice of the Rules change. It was aware of an upcoming change
to the FIT Rules by May 13, 2011, 22 days prior to the June 3, 2011 announcement
about the West of London and Bruce Regions. By May 31, 2011, three days prior to the
announcement, NextEra had knowledge that there would be a window for proponents
to change connection points.718 Prior to the Rules change, NextEra met with various
representatives regarding changes to connection points for its projects.
631. On December 21, 2010 the OPA announced that 1200 MW of contracts would be
offered in the Bruce Region. After that announcement, various meetings between
NextEra, Boulevard's parent company, and the Ontario Power Authority led to the
discussion of interconnection point changes.
632. After the release of the initial rankings, the OPA met with NextEra as early as January
2011 to discuss Boulevard's projects and their placement regions.
Contracts, December 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0073); NextEra also received contracts for two wind projects, Summerhaven and Conestogo, which are located in the Niagara transmission region. Ontario Power Authority, Priority ranking for First Round FIT Contracts, December 21, 2010, at pp. 7 and 9 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0073)
716 In addition to Mesa, Edwards listed NextEra as a larger competitor. Transcript of Colin Edwards Deposition In Re Application of Mesa Power Group, LLC, page 65 lines 6‐13 (August 3, 2012) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0410)
717 Email from Nicole Geneau (NextEra Energy Resources) to Shawn Cronkwright (OPA), June 9, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0148) ; Specifically, NextEra asked: "If a party wishes to connect to Seaforth TS 115kV is it fair to assume that the capability is 480MW which is the sum of the circuit capacities of lines B22D and B23D?" Email from Nicole Geneau (NextEra Energy) to the OPA, June 8, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0300)
718 Email from Patricia Lightburn to Jim MacDougall, May 31, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0299)
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a) On January 21, 2011 representatives of Boulevard met with Bob Chow, Director,
Transmission Integration and Tracy Garner, Planner with the OPA to discuss the
possibility of Boulevard's Bluewater project being placed in a less favourable
region.719 As a result, the Bluewater project was moved by the OPA to the closest
transmission area to the project location.
b) Bluewater and Jericho were two of NextEra's projects discussed at the meeting.720
Both projects ultimately changed connection points in June 2011 during the change
window of June 6‐10, 2011.721
633. Hydro One and IESO met with Boulevard representatives to discuss connections to the
500kV transmission line as early as July 2010. The inside technical information given to
Boulevard during these meetings related directly to the connection point changes that
NextEra filed with the OPA in June 2011.
a) NextEra sought a meeting with Hydro One and IESO as early as July 2010 on the
proposed interconnection of the 500 kV system.722
b) A communication on April 1, 2011 reveals that a discussion between NextEra and
the IESO took place regarding the 500 kV "interconnection solutions" for NextEra's
projects that were in the Economic Connection Test queue. NextEra also requested
another follow‐up meeting at the IESO office to discuss options for the 500 kV line.723
c) This resulted in a meeting on April 8, 2011 between NextEra, Hydro One and IESO
regarding "pre FIT consultations."724
634. Various meetings continued to take place that provided assistance to NextEra prior to
the connection change window.
a) One meeting on either May 19, 2011 or June 2, 2011, was scheduled on April 5, 2011
between Gowlings law firm, NextEra, HydroOne, Power Advisory, and IESO.725
719 Email from Mary Ellen Richardson (Canadian District Energy Association) to Bob Chow (OPA), January 14, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0294); Handwritten Notes, January 21, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0295); Email from Tracy Garner (OPA) to Irwin Ng (OPA), January 25, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0297)
720 Email from Tracy Garner (OPA) to Irwin Ng (OPA), January 25, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0297) 721 E‐mail from Jim MacDougall (OPA) to Nicole Geneau (NextEra Energy), May 31, 2011 (Section 1782 Evidence)
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0068) 722 Email from Bobby Adjemian (NextEra) to Ioan Agavriloai (IESO), July 2, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0149) 723 Email from Bobby Adjemian (NextEra Energy) to Mike Falvo (IESO), April 1, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits
at C‐0125) 724 Email from Bobby Adjemian (NextEra Energy) to Mike Falvo (IESO), April 1, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits
at C‐0125) 725 Email from Bonnie Hiltz (OPA) to Jennifer Tuck (NextEra), Viviena von Bertoldi (OPA) et al., April 5, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0127)
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b) Another meeting was held at Starbucks for a "quick chat" on May 26, 2011, between
Nicole Geneau, Project Manager at NextEra Energy Resources and Jim MacDougall,
Manager of FIT Program, Electricity Resources.726
635. The OPA provided special assistance to NextEra on the connection change window
leading up to the Rules change that was announced on June 3, 2011, that enabled
contracts in the West of London Region to move into the Bruce Region.
a) On May 13, 2011, 22 days in advance of the window announcement, Jennifer Tuck,
Director, Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations with NextEra, contacted
JoAnne Butler, Vice President of the OPA, to discuss the Economic Connection Test
process and connection point changes.727
b) The OPA was in close communication with NextEra. On May 13, 2011, NextEra was
aware of the opportunity for applicants to change connection points well in advance
of the OPA's announcement, and well in advance of its direct competitor, Mesa.
c) On May 31, 2011, 3 days in advance of the Rules change announcement, Jim
MacDougall, Manager of FIT Electricity Resources, was contacted by Nicole Geneau,
Project Manager of NextEra, and Mr. Jim MacDougall gave her inside advice on
connection options for NextEra.728
d) Nicole Geneau had asked:
Knowing that the "window" is opening, is this one of the changes you'd prefer us to make when we're updating the application? If, so we'll remove the FIT application from the list of asset.729
e) Jim MacDougall responded:
It is best to request assignments asap, in advance of any connection change window.730
636. NextEra therefore had at least 3 days advance notice of the connection change
opportunity.
637. Through this advance notice, NextEra's Canadian projects were able to strategically plan
to maximize the opportunity for NextEra's projects to receive contracts. In contrast,
726 Email from Nicole Geneau to Devin Petteplace, May 19, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0221) ; Email
from Nicole Geneau to Jim MacDougall, May 26, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0212) ; Email from Jim MacDougall (OPA) to Nicole Geneau (NextEra Energy), May 26, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0270)
727 Email from JoAnne Butler (OPA) to Jennifer Tuck (NextEra Energy), May 13, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0123)
728 Most of NextEra's projects under Boulevard Associates and NextEra decided to create individual companies for each of the projects. NextEra sought advice on whether or not they should request assignment before the connection change window.
729 Email from Jim MacDougall to Nicole Geneau, May 31, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0220) 730 Email from Jim MacDougall to Nicole Geneau, May 31, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0220)
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Mesa was completely surprised by the June 3 Rules changes, and had limited time to
plan to improve its opportunity to receive a contract.
C. NextEra Energy Resources, LLC is in like circumstances with the Investor.
i. NextEra's privileged access to information as to the capacity availability at L7S
638. On November 22, 2010, the Ministry of Energy was asked: "Can a FIT applicant subject
to the ECT do anything to jump the queue…?" In response to this, the Ministry of Energy
replied: "Projects subject to the ECT must undergo this process: there are no
shortcuts".731 At this time, the Ministry of Energy and the OPA were already in
discussions with Nextera which would eventually allow NextEra to circumvent the
established FIT Program, and take a secret shortcut to contracts.
639. NextEra's Goshen project was the top‐ranked project in the Bruce region. It had a
nameplate capacity of 102 MW and, prior to the connection point change window, had
nominated its connection point as L7S.732
640. Before the Rules change, on June 3, 2011, the OPA released to FIT proponents an
updated Transmission Availability Table, setting out available transmission capacity at all
connection points in the Bruce and West of London Regions. According to the Table, the
circuit at which Goshen was to connect, L7S, had only 30 MW of capacity available,
which was insufficient to accommodate NextEra's Goshen project.733
641. If a project identified a connection point that did not have sufficient capacity to
accommodate it, then the project would not receive a FIT contract, notwithstanding its
ranking. Thus, based on the transmission availability information from the OPA, Goshen
would have been reasonably expected to change its connection point from L7S during
the change window.
642. However, Goshen did not change its connection point. Moreover, Goshen was awarded
a FIT contract on July 4 based on its connection point of L7S.734 The only possible
explanation for this is that, contrary to the information publicly provided by the OPA to
Mesa and other project competitors, the OPA had told NextEra that, in fact, there was
more transmission capacity available at L7S. Indeed, there must have been at least 102
731 Ministry of Energy, Draft Transmission‐Related Questions and Answers, November 22, 2010 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0092) 732 Ontario Power Authority, Priority ranking for First Round FIT Contracts, December 21, 2010 , at pp. 7 and 9, at p.
1 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0073) 733 Ontario Power Authority, FIT Program, Transmission Availability Table, June 3, 2011, at p. 1 (Investor's Schedule
of Exhibits at C‐0166) 734 Ontario Power Authority, "FIT Contract Offers for the Bruce‐Milton Capacity Allocation Process", July 4, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0292)
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MW of available capacity since the connection point was able to accommodate the
generation capacity of the Goshen project.735
643. The lack of transparency and preferential access to information on available capacity at
L7S caused damage to Mesa's TTD project.
644. Northland's Grand Bend project was ranked 3rd in the priority rankings in the Bruce
Region. It had originally identified its connection point as L7S.736 Based on the TAT tables
released on June 3, Grand Bend determined that L7S would not have sufficient capacity
to accommodate its project, and decided to change its connection point to B23D.737 This,
in turn, forced TTD to change its connection point from B23D to B22D, and to incur the
cost for the change.
ii. NextEra had a close relationship with the Ontario Power Authority.
645. In communications between NextEra and the OPA, a special relationship had been
formed between NextEra and Bob Chow, OPA Director of Transmission Integration by at
least June 17, 2010,738
a) On January 14, 2011, NextEra arranged a meeting with the OPA through Bob Chow
to discuss "some areas of concern that they have identified during their analysis of
options for revising the interconnection points of their prospective FIT projects in
Ontario."739 Seven days later, on January 21, 2011, the meeting took place.740
646. NextEra formed a special relationship with JoAnne Butler, OPA Vice President, Electricity
Resources by at least May 13, 2011.741
a) On May 13, 2011, Jennifer Tuck, Director, Regulatory Affairs and Government
Relations with NextEra contacted JoAnne Butler of the OPA to discuss the ECT
735 In the list of FIT contract Offers for the Bruce ‐ Milton allocation process, Goshen's connection point is listed as
"L7S". Ontario Power Authority, "FIT Contract Offers for the Bruce‐Milton Capacity Allocation Process", July 4, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0292)
736 Ontario Power Authority, Priority ranking for First Round FIT Contracts, December 21, 2010, at p. 1 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0073)
737 Ontario Power Authority, "FIT Contract Offers for the Bruce‐Milton Capacity Allocation Process", July 4, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0292)
738 Email from Bobby Adjemian (NextEra) to Bob Chow (OPA), June 18, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0152)
739 Email from Mary Ellen Richardson (Canadian District Energy Association) to Bob Chow (OPA), January 14, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0294)
740 Email from Mary Ellen Richardson (Canadian District Energy Association) to Bob Chow (OPA), January 14, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0294); Handwritten Notes, January 21, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0295); Email from Tracy Garner (OPA) to Irwin Ng (OPA), January 25, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0297)
741 Email from JoAnne Butler (OPA) to Jennifer Tuck (NextEra Energy), May 13, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0123)
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process and connection point changes, specifically whether or not proponents
would be given the opportunity to change their connection points.742 Six days later,
on May 19, 2011, the meeting was set up.743
647. NextEra formed a relationship with Jim MacDougall, OPA Manager FIT Electricity
Resources by at least November 26, 2009.744 In an Email dated May 31, 2011, Nicole
Geneau thanked Jim MacDougall for meeting with her the previous week and discussed
her advance knowledge of the connection Rules change.745 Jim MacDougall's response of
the same date, after consulting with his OPA colleague, advised her that it is best for
NextEra "to request assignment asap, in advance of any connection change window".746
648. Despite the OPA's formalized correspondence procedure set up on June 6, 2011,
NextEra continued to receive assistance.
649. On June 6, 2011, the OPA directed its staff to formalize correspondence with
proponents. Proponents were purportedly not allowed to contact individuals at the
OPA, and instead were directed to send any inquiries to [email protected]
Although the OPA staff was ostensibly not permitted to provide information directly to
proponents, the OPA continued to communicate directly with NextEra:
a) On June 9, 2011, Nicole Geneau contacted Jim MacDougall directly to follow up on
NextEra's projects and he responded to her on the same day.748
b) On June 10, 2011, Shawn Cronkwright continued to communicate directly with
NextEra about the "unlocking" of applications.749
c) On July 12, 2011, Allen Wiley of NextEra thanked the OPA for its assistance during
the FIT contract process. Allen Wiley stated that he was "impressed" with the OPA's
helpfulness, as he was "privy to a number of the discussions and Email traffic that
have gone back and forth between your staff and NextEra…"
742 Email from JoAnne Butler (OPA) to Jennifer Tuck (NextEra Energy), May 13, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0123) 743 Email from Nicole Geneau (NextEra Energy) to Devin Petteplace (Ministry of Agriculture and Food), May 19,
2011 (Section 1782 Evidence) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0122) 744 Email from Nancy Cowan (NextEra Energy) to Jim MacDougall (OPA), November 26, 2009 (Investor's Schedule
of Exhibits at C‐0113) 745 Email from Nicole Geneau (NextEra Emergy) to Jim MacDougall (OPA), May 31, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0302) 746 Email from Nicole Geneau (NextEra Emergy) to Jim MacDougall (OPA), May 31, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0302) 747 Email from Tracy Garner (OPA) to Bob Chow (OPA), June 6, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0298) 748 Email from Nicole Geneau (NextEra Energy) to Jim MacDougalll (OPA), June 9, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0301) 749 Email from Shawn Cronkwright (OPA) to Nicole Geneau (NextEra), June 10, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits
at C‐0303)
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d) Allen Wiley wrote:
Your staff has been very helpful in working through the logistics in getting all of the paper work in order for the six contracts that have been afforded to NextEra.750
e) JoAnne Butler of the OPA commented on this email to other OPA representatives by
saying "Good job to your teams!"751
650. While the OPA continued to directly communicate with NextEra, it did not accord the
same treatment to Mesa. On May 20, 2011, Mesa wrote to the OPA inquiring about the
FIT Ranking Process.752 The OPA did not respond to Mesa until after the connection
Rules change.753
iii. Ontario granted special privileges to NextEra by allowing NextEra's projects to connect to the 500 kV transmission line.
651. Originally, NextEra had wanted an arrangement with Ontario similar to that which was
afforded to the Korean Consortium; it asked for guaranteed priority access to the
transmission system, and for a working group to facilitate execution.754 When it was not
successful, NextEra switched its plan to building transmission lines, and asked to have a
certain percentage of the transmission line build out in Ontario.755 Nextera called the
proposal "NetZero".
652. The strategy behind the proposal was "the packaging of transmission, generation and
economic development opportunities."756 The "NetZero" proposal
653. The concept paralleled NextEra's
later approach in the West of London Region, where Nextera connected to the Bruce to
Longwood Line – a 500 kv line that did not have any renewable energy projects
connected. The goal of the proposal was to
750 Email from Allen Wiley (NextEra) to Colin Andersen (OPA) and JoAnne Butler (OPA), July 12, 2011 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0304) 751 Email from Allen Wiley (NextEra) to Colin Andersen (OPA) and JoAnne Butler (OPA), July 12, 2011 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0304) 752 Letter from Mark Ward (Mesa), Chuck Edey (Leader Resources) and Michael Bernstein (Capstone Infrastructure)
to Shawn Cronkwright (OPA), May 20, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0098) 753 Letter from Shawn Cronkwright, Ontario Power Authority (OPA) to Mark Ward, Mesa Power Group LLC; Charles
Edey, Leader Resources Services Corp., Michael Bernstein, Capstone Infrastructure Corp., June 17, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0195)
754 Email from Bob Lopinski (Counsel Public Affairs) to Craig MacLennan (Ministry of Energy) et al., April 1, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0136); Email from Christopher Quirke to Petra Fisher, April 30, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0191)
755 Email from Christopher Quirke to Petra Fisher, April 30, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0191) 756 Email from Phil Dewan to Rick Jennings, July 19, 2010, (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0213)
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654. The Ministry of Energy dedicated specific staff to handling NextEra. Rick Jennings,
Assistant Deputy Minister of Energy, was designated to "lead a broader table to discuss
the packaging of transmission, generation and economic development opportunities".758
In its attempt to bundle together transmission projects with generation projects,
NextEra had unprecedented access to Ministry officials.
655. In an internal Ministry of Energy note on the proposal, Ministry staff noted that for it to
proceed, "Ontario would need to make significant changes to the market rules that
govern the dispatching and settlement operations managed by the IESO".759
656. Through these discussions on transmission build out NextEra was given an advantage in
the FIT process. For example, only Nextera was made aware that it would be able to
connect to the 500 kv line that was previously a prohibitive connection. Using this
information, NextEra connected into the Bruce to Longwood 500 kv line for its Jericho,
Goshen, and Bluewater projects760.
657. In a May 25, 2011 draft Bruce to Milton Contract Allocation announcement, the Ministry
of Energy wrote that "projects with connection points that trigger upgrades…will be
eligible to receive a contract offer where capacity is available."761 Given that
in the West
of London Region, both the Ministry of Energy and NextEra knew full well that such an
"upgrade" had already been triggered through NextEra's negotiations with the
government.
658. Before the June 3, 2011 Rules change that allowed Nextera to connect directly to the
500 kv Bruce to Longwood line, this line functioned as the Bruce Special Protection
System (SPS), which was intended to be reserved as a "blackstart" reserve line in the
event that that the Bruce Nuclear facility ever needed to restart.763
659. Moreover, given that the 500 kv Bruce to Longwood line was not an available
"connection resource", connecting to it was beyond the FIT Rules (Section 5.4(b)).
757 Email from Phil Dewan to Rick Jennings, July 19, 2010, (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0213) 758 Email from Phil Dewan to Rick Jennings, July 19, 2010, (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0213) 759 Ministry of Energy, Meeting Note, August 19, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0002) 760 at p. 11 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0207) 761 Email from Jennifer Wismer (Ministry of Energy) to Michael Maddock (Ministry of the Environment), May 25,
2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0069) 762 at p. 11 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0207) 763 CWS ‐ Robertson, at para. 40.
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Section 5.4.1(c)(i) and (ii) of the FIT Rules only provided for "available connection
resources" and "connection resources...existing, committed, or [under ministerial
direction]...". Since the Bruce to Longwood line was a reserve line, its capacity was not
an available connection resource.
660. Indeed, when Mesa asked if it was possible for a wind power project to connect to the
Bruce to Longwood 500 kv line, it was told it could not.764
661. However, the OPA changed the FIT Standard Definitions to allow Nextera to connect to
the Bruce to Longwood 500 kv line. The original draft of the definition said:
Prohibitive Connection Schedule means the schedule, established by the OPA and amended from time to time in the OPA's sole discretion, that defines transformer stations that are prohibitive connection points765
The definition was then changed to say:
Prohibited Connection Schedule means the "Prohibited Connection Schedule", document published by the OPA on the Website identifying transformer stations which cannot accept additional generation, as updated or amended from time to time [emphasis added]766
662. By changing the definition from "prohibitive connection points" to stations which
"cannot accept additional generation", the OPA enabled Nextera to connect directly to
the 500 kv Bruce to Longwood line, which had been previously designated as a Special
Protection System.
663. Moreover, the OPA tried to hide the fact that these additions were made. In previous
versions of the FIT Standard definitions, there was no mention of a "Prohibitive
Connection Schedule". Every time that the OPA released revised versions of the FIT
Rules or Standard Definitions, the new versions were published on the OPA's website,
and along with the updated version the OPA published a "redline" version which
compared the previous version with the new version so that all changes were easily
identifiable. While every other change to the FIT Rules and FIT Standard Definitions was
documented in comparisons on the OPA website, the FIT Standard Definition
Comparison of Version 1.3.2 to 1.4, did not include this change of definition in its
redline, even though it was the only change to the Rules.767
764 CWS ‐ Robertson, at para. 41. 765 Draft FIT Standard Definitions, September 30, 2010, at p. 16, emphasis added (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0227) 766 Draft FIT Standard Definitions, July 2, 2010, at p. 16 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0227) 767 Standard practice indicates that when a change to the FIT Standard Definitions was made, the OPA would
produce a redlined version of the Standard Definitions, clearly indicating what changes were made. An example of this is the FIT Standard Definitions Comparison (Version 1.0 to 1.2), November 19, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0412); In the version where the "Prohibited Connection Schedule was added, however, no such changes were highlighted. See FIT Standard Definitions Comparison (Version 1.4 to 1.3.2), December 8, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0411)
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664. Ordinarily, the OPA also published a chart which showed changes to the FIT Rules, and
explained the reasoning for the change. In ths case, it did not.
665. Connecting to the Bruce to Longwood line was a drastic change from the original
intention of the FIT Program. JoAnne Butler's comment, in advance of the June 3, 2011
Rules change was that she hoped there would be "no surprises and complications like
someone wanting to connect to the 500 kv lines…".768 That such a senior official at the
OPA would view connecting to the 500 kv line as a "surprise", is telling to say the least.
666. NextEra's projects were the first projects to connect directly to the Bruce‐Longwood
"reserve" 500 kV transmission line. To make this connection, NextEra had to construct a
lengthy additional transmission line.769
667. On June 3, 2011, the same day that the connection point Rules change was
announced,770 one of NextEra's subsidiaries, Upper Canada Transmission, applied for an
Ontario Transmission License. The transmission license was granted on November 23,
2011 and gave NextEra one of the 13 transmission licenses in Ontario.771
668. Extensive planning, research and cost is required for a lengthy transmission line with a
high voltage capacity. NextEra's Ontario transmission license application was submitted
on the same day as the Rules change announcement, which makes clear that NextEra
had the time and resources to plan for the application long before the Rules change
announcement.
669. NextEra was also given special assistance from various Ontario departments, specifically
to help it connect to the 500 kV transmission line.
a) As early as July 2010, NextEra was arranging to meet Hydro One and IESO on the
proposed interconnection of the 500 kV system.772
b) In April 2011, NextEra met with Hydro One to discuss connection options to the
Bruce‐Longwood "reserve" 500kV line.773
768 E‐mail from Sue Lo (Ministry of Energy) to JoAnne Butler (OPA), Shawn Cronkwright (OPA), and Michael Lyle
(OPA), May 12, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0147) 769 Hydro One Draft, Customer Impact Assessment, Adelaide/Bornish/Jericho Wind Energy Centre, November 11,
2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0241) Three of NextEra's projects (Adelaide, Bornish and Jericho), which received contracts following the Connection Point Amendment Window, were merged into one project called NextEra 500 kV Wind energy Centre; Draft Customer Impact Assessment, Adelaide/Bornish/Jericho Wind Energy Centres, November 11, 2011, Appendix A: Diagrams, Figure 1 p. 000242 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0241)
770 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, June 3, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0046)
771 Ontario Energy Board, Electricity Transmitter Issued Licences, November 12, 2013 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0398)
772 Email from Bobby Adjemian (NextEra) to Ioan Agavriloai (IESO), July 2, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0149)
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670. The OPA published an updated Transmission Availability Table on June 3, 2011, the day
that the Rules changes were announced.774 That Table provided applicants with
information regarding the transmission capacity available at the specific connection
points in the Bruce and West of London Regions. In the Transmission Availability Table,
the OPA added a sentence that was not included in previous Transmission Availability
Tables:
Note 3: Applicants should contact the IESO for information regarding connecting to a 500 kV circuit
671. NextEra then attended various meetings with Hydro One and IESO, after contracts were
offered, to discuss technical issues relating to NextEra's projects connecting to the 500
kV transmission system.
a) On July 22, 2011, a meeting was held between NextEra, IESO and Hydro One to
discuss all aspects of the five new FIT transmission projects that were announced by
the OPA on July 4, 2011.775
b) On August 24, 2011, another meeting was held between NextEra, IESO and Hydro
One to discuss NextEra's 500 kV FIT projects to Review Regulatory and
Environmental Requirements.776
c) On September 13, 2011 a joint meeting Suncor and NextEra was scheduled with
Hydro One and IESO regarding projects connecting at the B562L and B563L
connection points.777
672. On June 20, 2011, in a letter to Minister of Energy Brad Duguid, Acciona, another FIT
project applicant complained that it is unfair for a proponent to change connection
points and build a lengthy transmission line to reach the newly desired connection
point. Acciona's position was that allowing proponents to build a lengthy transmission
lines discriminates against proponents that designated a connection point in the
application from the beginning and whose projects do not require extensive
construction. Acciona stated:
773 Email from Bobby Adjemian (NextEra Energy) to Mike Falvo (IESO), April 1, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits
at C‐0125) 774 Ontario Power Authority, FIT Program, Transmission Availability Table, June 3, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0166) 775 Minutes of Meeting/Conference Call, NextEra Energy Canada IESO and Hydro One Networks on New FIT
Projects, July 22, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0001) 776 Email from Michael Lesychyn (Hydro One) to John Sabiston (Hydro One), Ben Greenhouse (NextEra) et al., July
29, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0124) ; Email from Michael Leschyn (Hydro One) to Robyn Wong (Hydro One), Ben Greenhouse (NextEra), Jennifer Tuck (NextEra), et al., August 24, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0126)
777 Minutes of Meeting, re NextEra/Suncor Joint Meeting with HONI/IESO, September 21, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0219)
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In conducting that TAT, the OPA (along with the IESO and LDCs) have reserved for themselves a reasonable degree of subjectivity…If an Applicant has changed its connection point and as a result the Applicant would have to build a transmission line of such extended length that the likelihood of ever completing the Projects is low (particularly as compared to Projects who originally identified the proper connection point and, not surprisingly, are located closed to the connection point).778
673. On July 11, 2012, the Ministry of Energy directed the OPA to not allow any other
proponents to build a line longer than 50km in order to connect to the grid. The
Direction stated:
Clarifying Transmission and Distribution
The OPA shall revise the FIT Rules to provide a limit for non‐hydroelectric projects with respect to the distance between a project's connection point on the existing transmission or distribution grid and the land within the project's location to which the applicant has access rights at the time of application
The OPA shall not enter into a FIT contract where the proposed project is located 50 km or more from its proposed connection point on the existing transmission or distribution grid according to the measurement in the preceding paragraph. 779
674. Under the next version of FIT Rules, released on August 10, 2012, the OPA prohibited
proponents from selecting connection points more than 50km away:
(j) except in the case of a waterpower Project, [a project is] not be located 50 kilometres or more from the proposed Connection Point, as measured from the point on the Site (as proposed in the Application) closest to such proposed Connection Point. For clarity, such proposed Connection Point must be located on the Distribution System or IESO‐Controlled Grid, as the case may be, in existence at the date of the Application. A Project shall not be configured for the purpose of avoiding such 50 kilometre requirement. Whether the Project is configured for such purpose shall be determined by the OPA in its reasonable discretion. If the OPA determines that a Project has been configured to avoid such requirement, the proposed generating facility shall be deemed to have not met this eligibility requirement. 780
675. By then, however, various Ontario departments, specifically the Ontario Power
Authority had already accorded better treatment and provided extraordinary assistance
to Mesa's competitors. Through its meetings and direct communications with the OPA,
NextEra had been given advance notice of the OPA's Rules changes to the FIT Program,
and had been given direct assistance to connect to a 500 kV transmission line.
778 Letter from Daniel Dubois (Acciona), to the Honourable Brad Duguid (Minister of Energy), June 20, 2011.
[emphasis added] (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0311) 779 Letter from Chris Bentley (Minister of Energy)to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, July 11, 2012.
[emphasis added] (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0210) 780 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tarriff Program, FIT Rules, Version 2.0, August 10, 2012, Section 2.1(vii)(j)
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0058)
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D. Establishment, Expansion, Conduct and Operation
676. NAFTA Article 1102 requires that treatment must be with respect to the establishment,
acquisition, expansion, management, conduct, operation, and sale or other disposition
of investments.
677. The preferential treatment received by Pattern and Boulevard related to the conduct
and operation of wind projects, and related directly to the efforts of projects owned by
Mesa and its competitors to secure Power Purchase Agreements in Ontario.
E. Conclusion
678. Canada has breached its obligations under NAFTA Article 1102 by providing better
treatment to Canadian investors or Canadian investments who were in like
circumstances to the Investor and its Investments.
679. The Investor and its Investments were in like circumstances with the general class of
applicants who competed for transmission capacity in the Ontario grid, and those who
sought renewable energy PPAs from Ontario.
680. In these circumstances, the burden therefore shifts to Canada to show that the
difference in treatment, both its nature and magnitude, was fully justified by legitimate
regulatory considerations.
681. The issue of discriminatory effects of the FIT program against foreign investors was a
prominent issue before the WTO. The WTO Panel's findings on the underlying
discrimination of the FIT Program in favour of local Ontarians and against persons who
are not from Ontario781 are certainly sufficient to require Canada to demonstrate how
the Program did not constitute a discriminatory regime.
682. The treatment with respect to an application for transmission capacity to generate
renewable energy always occurred in relation to the establishment, expansion,
management, conduct or operation of investments. It is revealing in this regard that in
the WTO proceeding, Canada did not even attempt to justify the discriminatory features
of its measures under Article XX of the GATT, which provides a framework for the
justification of measures that are necessary for legitimate public policy purposes.
683. Thus Canada has therefore breached its NAFTA Article 1102 obligation to provide
national treatment.
684. The Investor, and its Investment, has suffered harm, injury, loss and damage as a result
of Canada's failure to meet its national treatment obligation.
781 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ AB Report, at para. 5.63 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐002)
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IV. INTERNATIONAL LAW STANDARD OF TREATMENT
685. The OPA and Ministry of Energy did not execute the FIT Program in a manner that
corresponded with the international law standard of treatment. The FIT Program was
conducted in an arbitrary manner that was not fair, reasonable or transparent. While
Ontario was rolling out the FIT Program and leading renewable‐energy producers to
expect that this was the process through which they needed to enter Ontario's market,
the government was at the same time secretly negotiating with the Korean Consortium
and NextEra for separate energy deals.
686. The flawed implementation of the FIT Program, which included:
a) Unexpected and arbitrary changes to the FIT Rules
b) Changes to the FIT Rules, influenced by and for the benefit of NextEra
c) Unfairly permitting enabler requested projects to select connection points
d) Failing to conduct Economic Connection Tests as required by the FIT Rules
e) Entering into the GEIA and providing the Korean Consortium guaranteed priority
access to transmission to the detriment of other energy providers in the province
f) Delay in the FIT Program to benefit Samsung and its partners
g) Unfairly ranking projects
h) Failure to give reasons for the June 3, 2011 Rules changes
i) Failure to operate the FIT Program fairly and transparently contrary to Mesa's
reasonable legitimate expectations
i. Unexpected and arbitrary changes to the FIT Rules
687. Throughout the existence of the FIT program, the Rules that governed the Program
were changed. In particular, the Minister of Energy's June 3, 2011 Direction and the new
version of the FIT Rules released the same day, made significant and unexpected
changes to the Program.
688. The continuous, arbitrary, and unexpected Rules changes to the FIT Program created
conditions that made it difficult for Mesa and other competing proponents to
methodically satisfy requirements of the FIT Program as it was in constant flux. The lack
of stability in the regulatory competition caused Mesa to expend considerable time,
resources and money to meet the conditions of the Rules, only to discover that the
Rules were changed. The timing and manner of the rule changes systematically
benefited certain operators and systematically disadvantaged Mesa. This was results‐
driven administration, where the Government departed from normal methods and
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procedures, and stated frameworks and guidelines, whenever doing so enabled market
access for the firms that it preferred.
689. In May 2011, the OPA and Ministry of Energy discussed the process that would be used
to award contracts in the Bruce Region. On May 11, Shawn Cronkwright of the OPA
wrote to Joanne Butler of the OPA, and to Sue Lo from the Ministry of Energy,782 about
options for the award of OPA contracts in the Bruce and London areas, including a
"Special version of a TAT/DAT type process" and "running the IPA portion of the ECT".
Mr. Cronkwright indicated that if the process selected was "consistent with the FIT
rules" the OPA would "not likely require an additional directive (subject to confirmation
from OPA legal)."783 This email nonetheless shows that the OPA was, at the time,
considering processes for awarding contracts that did not follow Mesa's expectations
and the process set out in the FIT Rules.
690. These emails also show that the OPA and Ministry of Energy understood that it would
be necessary for the Minister of Energy to issue a Direction in order for the OPA to
change the process for awarding contracts. On May 11, 2011, Shawn Cronkwright wrote
to JoAnne Butler and Sue Lo saying, "if the process aligns with the rules, the need for a
directive diminishes."784
691. On June 3, 2011, the Minister of Energy directed the OPA to establish a process for
allocating transmission capacity enabled by the new Bruce‐to‐Milton transmission line.
As part of the process, the Minister instructed the OPA to open a five‐day window for
proponents with projects in the Bruce or West of London Regions to change their
connection points to another point "in one of these two areas."785
692. On the very same day, the OPA released Version 1.5 of the FIT Rules. This new version of
the Rules implemented the Direction from the Minister of Energy.786
693. Specifically, FIT Rules Version 1.5 implemented the Minister's Direction to allow
proponents to change connection points between regions as part of the Bruce‐to‐Milton
Capacity Allocation process.787 Section 5.4.1(b) stated:
782 Email from Susan Lo to Shawn Conkwright and Joanne Butler, May 11, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0309) 783 Email from Susan Lo to Shawn Conkwright and Joanne Butler, May 11, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0309) 784 Email from Shawn Cronwright (OPA), to JoAnne Butler (OPA), Sue Lo (Ministry of Energy), May 11 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0091) 785 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to OPA, June 3, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0077) 786 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to OPA, June 3, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0077); Ontario Power Authority, Allocating Capacity and Offering FIT Contracts for Bruce to Milton Enabled Projects, June 3, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0140)
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At any time, the OPA may, by notice posted on the Website, provide a period of not less than five (5) Business Days during which Applicants may, in respect of a Newly Enabled Project, change the Project's proposed Connection Point by amending Section 3 of the Application accordingly and submitting it to the OPA, in accordance with instructions posted on the Website from time to time.
694. On June 3, the OPA posted a form on its website for the purpose of connection point
change. The form included instructions, stating that "[o]nly connection points requested
in the Bruce Transmission Area or the West of London Transmission Area will be
permitted."788
695. The unexpected connection point Rules change benefitted some proponents over
others. The OPA Vice President JoAnne Butler, in an email to the Ministry of Energy's
Sue Lo, "we need a Directive."789
696. Bob Chow, Director at the OPA, said that allowing the connection Rules change would
"complicate the process".790 An internal Ministry of Energy briefing note described the
beneficial effect the connection point Rules change would have for NextEra:
"NextEra may change connection points for a number of their projects in the West of London region[...] and possibly "bump" two of Leader's Bruce region projects down the priority ranking list."791
697. The Ministry of Energy was therefore well aware that such a change of the rules would
adversely affect Mesa Power's projects, while benefitting those of NextEra.
698. The change in the FIT Rules for the Bruce‐to‐Milton allocation process resulted in
priority rankings for the Bruce and West of London Regions that differed from those
issued in December 2010 and February 2011. By enabling proponents to change
connection points from the West of London Region to the Bruce Region, and thereby
change the Region within which a project was ranked, the new Rules allowed projects
that were previously outside the priority rankings for the Bruce Region, and would not
have been awarded contracts, to receive contracts. This caused projects like Mesa's
Arran and Twenty Two Degree projects, that were previously within the priority rankings
for the Bruce region, and which would therefore have been awarded contracts, to not
receive contracts.
787 Ontario Power Authority, FIT Rules Version 1.5, June 3, 2011, Section 5.4.1 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0005) 788 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, Form, "Request for Connection Point Amendment", Undated
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0247) 789 Email from JoAnne Butler (OPA) to Sue Lo (Ministry of Energy) and Shawn Cronkwright, May 12, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0313) 790 Email from Bob Chow to JoAnne Butler, Shawn Cronkwright and Michael Lyle, May 12, 2011 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0308) 791 Briefing Note, Bruce to Milton Contract Awards, Objective of Connection Change Window‐Stakeholder
Reaction, June 15, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0318)
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699. The changes to the FIT Rules were made without notice, and resulted in significant
changes to the FIT Program that could not have been anticipated by Mesa, which was
arbitrary.
700. Previously, in May 2010, the OPA had announced that a "window to request a change of
connection point" would open from July 5 to July 23, 2010.792 This was completely
different from what occurred in June 2011:
a) The 2010 window only allowed changes within a region, not between regions
b) The 2010 window was three weeks long, not five days long
c) The 2010 window was announced two months in advance, not three days in
advance.
701. The 2010 window also never actually happened. Although the ability to change
connection points within a region had been contemplated as part of the FIT Program,793
this opportunity was never implemented. It was also only ever contemplated under the
FIT Rules in three scenarios:
a) If the project was connected to the Distribution System and was required to undergo
a Distribution Availability Test, it could change its connection point prior to
undergoing an Economic Connection Test ("ECT")794
b) If the project was part of the FIT Reserve;795 or
c) If the project was part of the FIT Production Line.796
702. For a project to join either the FIT Production Line or the FIT Reserve, it first had to
undergo an ECT. 797 By June 2011, the OPA had still not conducted an ECT. Since an ECT
had not taken place, no project could have been placed in either the FIT Reserve or the
792 Ontario Power Authority presentation, "The Economic Connection Test ‐ Approach, Metrics and Process", May
19, 2010, at p. 39 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0088) 793 Ontario Power Authority presentation, "The Economic Connection Test ‐ Approach, Metrics and Process", May
19, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0138) 794 Despite the fact that this explicit allowance was not provided for under the Transmission Availability Test (TAT)
section of the FIT Rules, projects in both the FIT Production Line and the FIT Reserve, were permitted to change their connections points, given sections 5.5(d) and 5.6(d) of the FIT Rules.
795 A project joins the FIT Reserve if the Economic Connection Test determines that the costs of the grid upgrades required to connect the project are not reasonable at that time (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0399)
796 A project joins the FIT Production Line once it completes the Economic Connection Test, and once the OPA determines that the costs of the grid upgrades required to accommodate that project are reasonable. A project will wait in the FIT Production Line until the grid expansion plans have been approved (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0399);
797 Ontario Power Authority presentation, "The Economic Connection Test ‐ Approach, Metrics and Process", May 19, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0138) See flow‐charts.
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FIT Production Line – meaning the only projects eligible to change connection points
would have been projects that were already connected to the Distribution System.798
703. NextEra's projects, which changed their connection points, were connected to the
transmission system, not the distribution system. They therefore would not have been
able to change connection points unless the FIT Rules were changed.
704. In an internal Ministry of Energy presentation,
705. Indeed, there were many internal government concerns about the Rules change.
Agencies were not prepared for such a sudden, unprecedented change. Hydro One, for
example, described the connection point amendment window as a "very short period"800
and expressed concerns about being able to manage the requests in time. 801
706. The Ministry of Energy, in its view, confirmed that "a number of developers (e.g.
Acciona, Leader Resources) have complained about the connection change window
process"802. Assistant Deputy Minister of Energy, Sue Lo, wrote that "many developers
have waded in expressing either support, disappointment or surprise of the change
window."803
707. One developer was Acciona Renewable Energy Canada, was a competing proponent
whose projects, Armow and Zurich, were ranked 24th and 25th in the Bruce Region.804 On
June 20, 2011, Acciona's Daniel Dubois wrote to the Minister of Energy to complain
about the new connection point Rules change.805 Acciona expressed specific concerns
about transmission capacity and the 750 MW cap in the Bruce Region. Acciona also
expressed "concerns regarding the fairness of a process which allows applicants to jump
798 The FIT Rules also never allowed connection point changes for enabler‐requested projects prior to an ECT. 799 Ministry of Energy, Draft presentation, "DRAFT Bruce to Milton Next Steps", May 11, 2011 (Investor's Schedule
of Exhibits at C‐0163) 800 Email from Bing Young to Patricia Lightburn, June 6, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0321) 801 Email from Sue Lo to Erika Botond and Andrew Mitchell, June 16, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0317); Email from Sue Lo (Ministry of Energy) to Shawn Cronkwright (OPA), May 20, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0316)
802 Ministry of Energy Briefing Note, Bruce to Milton Contract Awards, Objective of Connection Change Window‐Stakeholder Reaction, June 15, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0318)
803 Email from Sue Lo to Erika Botond and Andrew Mitchell, June 16, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0317)
804 Ontario Power Authority, Priority ranking for First Round FIT Contracts, December 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0073)
805 Letter from Daniel Dubois (Acciona) to the Honourable Brad Duguid, Minister of Energy, June 20, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0311)
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a connection queue that was already established based on the applicants original
connection points."806
708. Acciona expected that the proponents who chose a connection point from the
beginning, and whose projects did not require more extensive construction, would be
given priority:
When the OPA originally announced that it was contemplating allowing Applicants to change their original connection point as part of allocating connection resources in the Bruce to Milton and West of London Transmission areas, Acciona reasonably believed the reallocation of available connection resources, by connection point, would only apply to connection resources available after allocating connection resources to those Applicants who originally identified the connection point. Instead, Acciona understands it is the OPA's intention to ignore the original connection point identified by the Applicants. This would seem to reward Applicants who did not correctly identify their original connection point and submitted Applications with an aggressive number of Acceleration Days which will very likely be irrelevant given the structural delays in Ontario in existence at this time.807 [emphasis added]
709. During the time that Ontario was deciding how Bruce‐to‐Milton contracts would be
awarded, Ministry of Energy officials also expressed concern about announcing another
capacity setaside for the Korean Consortium,808 for fear of complaints of preferential
treatment from FIT proponents.809
710. The government did not want to set aside capacity for the Korean Consortium in a
region for which there was transmission available for FIT applicants as a result of the
Bruce‐to‐Milton line.810 Under such a scenario, renewable energy PPAs could not be
awarded to FIT applicants until the Korean Consortium had finalized its connection
points, in accordance with its priority access to transmission capacity. This would mean
that the time given to the Korean Consortium to select its connection points would
come under greater scrutiny, as it would affect the timing of FIT contract awards.811
711. The initial plan for Bruce‐to‐Milton allocation proposed by Ministry of Energy officials
was to split the West of London Region into two regions: West of London and
806 Letter from Daniel Dubois (Acciona Renewable Energy Canada) to Brad Duguid, Ministry of Energy, June 20,
2011, at p. 3 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0311) 807 Letter from Daniel Dubois (Acciona Renewable Energy Canada) to Brad Duguid, Ministry of Energy, June 20,
2011, at p. 3 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0311) 808 The Minister of Energy previously directed the OPA to set aside transmission capacity for the Consortium's
Phase 1 and 2 projects on September 30, 2009 and September 17, 2010, respectively. Letter from George Smitherman (Minister of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to OPA, September 30, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0105); Letter from Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, September 17, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0119)
809 Draft Issues Management Plan, Bruce‐Milton IPA Announcement, May 20, 2011, at p. 2 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0193)
810 Email from Ceiran Bishop to Sunita Chander, April 27, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0082) 811 Ministry of Energy, Presentation, "Bruce to Milton Transmission Line: FIT Contract Awards", Undated, at p. 4
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0269)
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London/London East. Under this scenario, all capacity enabled by the Bruce‐to‐Milton
line in West of London would be set aside for the Korean Consortium, while the capacity
enabled in London/London East (as well as in the Bruce region) would be allocated to
other proponents.812 This would have allowed the government to accommodate the
needs of the Korean Consortium while allowing the allocation process for FIT to proceed
independent of the Korean Consortium's timeline.
712. However, this plan was ultimately abandoned. It appears that the reason was that the
Premier's Office objected to FIT projects located in a new West of London Region being
effectively excluded from the Bruce‐to‐Milton allocation.813 Based on their geographical
location, NextEra's projects,814 would have been included in the new West of London
Region instead of London/London East. Thus, in opposing the exclusion of West of
London projects from the Bruce‐to‐Milton allocation, the Premier's Office was in effect
advocating for a process that benefitted NextEra.
713. In accordance with the Premier's Office's wishes, the June 3rd Direction that established
the process for allocating capacity enabled by Bruce‐to‐Milton to FIT did not split the
West of London into two regions. Instead, it allotted only 300 MW for FIT proponents in
the Region.815 Significantly, the Direction did not specify what was to be done with the
remaining 200 MW enabled by the Bruce‐to‐Milton line in West of London. The
capacity, however, was not allotted to the FIT Program.
714. The process the government ultimately decided on for the Bruce‐to‐Milton allocation
directly benefitted both the Korean Consortium and NextEra. It benefitted the Korean
Consortium by not allocating 200 MW in West of London for FIT. It effectively set aside
capacity for the Korean Consortium's projects without tying the planning or
implementation of these projects in any way to the FIT process. And, by not setting
aside the 200 MW through a Ministerial Direction (as had been done previously for
capacity set aside for the Korean Consortium in Haldimand and Bruce), the government
even managed to avoid bringing it to the attention of FIT proponents.
715. The process directly benefitted NextEra by allowing its FIT projects in the West of
London Region to participate in the Bruce‐to‐Milton allocation, and more particularly,
allowed them to move their projects from a region where they would not receive
812 Ministry of Energy, Presentation, "Bruce to Milton Transmission Line: FIT Contract Awards", Undated, at p. 4
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0269) 813 Email from Sue Lo (Ministry of Energy) to Pearl Ing and Sunita Chander (Ministry of Energy), May 12, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0083) 814 at p. 11 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0207) [Restricted] 815 Letter from Minister Brad Duguid to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, June 3, 2011 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐00046)
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contracts (West of London), to a nearby region (Bruce) where they did receive FIT
contracts.
ii. NextEra influenced changes to the FIT Rules
716. The connection Rules change enabled NextEra's projects to receive FIT contracts, when
they otherwise would not have. NextEra was fully aware it would not receive FIT
contracts for its four projects in the West of London Region if a connection Rules change
did not occur.816 Rankings for the West of London Region had been released on
December 21, 2010. Nextera had four projects located in West of London and those
projects were ranked 3rd, 4th, 6th and 9th in the Region.817 When the rankings were
released, the OPA had also indicated that only 300 MW would be awarded in the West
of London Region. After the two projects which ranked higher than NextEra were
awarded contracts, the remaining transmission capacity in the Region would be
insufficient to accommodate NextEra's projects. 818
717. Furthermore, two of NextEra’s projects (Bluewater and Jericho) did not have an
identified connection point and were "enabler requested".819 Enabler‐requested projects
were precluded from participating in the Bruce‐to‐Milton allocation process.820 So,
NextEra was profoundly aware that the ability to change connection points from the
West of London to Bruce transmission Region was essential for there to be sufficient
transmission capacity for its projects to receive FIT contracts.
718. As a result of the Rules change, proponents in the West of London Region, such as
NextEra, were allowed to change their interconnection points to connect in the Bruce
816 Based on the FIT priority ranking list that was released on December 21, 2010. Ontario Power Authority, Priority
ranking for First Round FIT Contracts, December 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0073) 817 FIT Priority Ranking List, December 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0073) 818 International Power had two projects (Eriean Wind and East Lake St. Clair Wind) ranked higher than NextEra in
the West of London region, totalling 198 MW. NextEra's four projects (Bluewater Wind Energy Centre, Jericho Wind Energy Centre, Adelaide Wind Power Project, and Bornish Wind Energy Centre) followed in priority ranking, totaling 323.5 MW. The total transmission capacity that was to be awarded in this region was 350 MW. Thus, after the two highest projects receive contracts, there was only 152 MW available, meaning there was not enough for all four of NextEra's projects to receive contracts. FIT Priority Ranking List, December 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0073)
819 FIT Priority Ranking List, December 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0073) 820 Ontario Power Authority, "Questions and Answers, Bruce to Milton Contract Allocation Process", June 8, 2011,
at p. 1 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0291) By allowing enabler‐requested projects in the Bruce and West of London Regions to select connection points during the change window, the OPA allowed Bluewater and Jericho to effectively change their status from enabler‐requested, and thereby participate in the Bruce‐to‐Milton allocation; FIT Rules Version 1.5, June 3, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0005)
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Re: Mesa Power Group v. Canada November 20, 2013
Region, thereby displacing Mesa's projects.821 The result was insufficient capacity in the
Bruce Region for Mesa's TTD and Arran projects, which in turn caused Mesa to not
receive contracts. Consequently, the connection Rules change resulted in other
proponents being given contracts, and contracts being denied to the Investor.
719. The Rules changes therefore had a discriminatory impact on Mesa, for a benefit to
NextEra. The Rules were changed to suit one applicant to the detriment of another.
720. During the Spring of 2010, the Government of Ontario considered implementing a range
of changes to the FIT Rules. Every iteration of proposed Rules changes benefited
NextEra, and resulted in Nextera being able to have access to more transmission
capacity than it would have had if the Rules remained as they were.
721. The Rules change was also specifically designed with NextEra in mind. On a number of
occasions, the Minister of Energy's Office took explicit steps to ensure the process was
being executed to the benefit of NextEra. In advance of an April 8, 2010 meeting
between NextEra and Minister Duguid, Paul Ungerman of the Minister's Office asked for
an update on the status of NextEra's projects, so the Minister could "be prepared to
contextualize next steps for the company".822 Moreover, in a June 15, 2011 Briefing Note
on the Bruce to Milton Contract Awards, the Ministry of Energy noted that the Rule
change "allows projects...who did not request a specific connection point at the time of
application to request one now", and specifically listed NextEra's projects as
examples.823
722. The Rules change significantly departed from the procedure previously established by
the OPA for connection point changes. The Rules allowed a FIT proponent that
previously requested a connection point in their application to change to a different
connection point within their transmission zone,824 and also allowed proponents to
change their status to enabler requested. 825 However, the OPA never intended projects
that originally identified as enabler requested to request a connection point. This was
not allowed in any version of the FIT Rules.
821 Ontario Power Authority, "FIT Contract Offers for the Bruce‐Milton Capacity Allocation Process", July 4, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0292); Ontario Power Authority, "FIT Car Priority Ranking by Region", July 4, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0293)
822 Email from Paul Ungerman (Ministry of Energy) to Joanne Lorenzi (Ministry of Energy), April 8, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0112)
823 Ministry of Energy Briefing Note, "Bruce to Milton Contract Awards", June 15, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0172)
824 Ontario Power Authority presentation, "The Economic Connection Test ‐ Approach, Metrics and Process", May 19, 2010, Page 39, 46 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0088)
825 Ontario Power Authority presentation, "The Economic Connection Test ‐ Approach, Metrics and Process", May 19, 2010, Page 46 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0088)
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723. NextEra also gained assistance through the Ontario Premier's office. In May 2011 the
Premier's office injected itself into the FIT Program, and began expressing its political
preferences for matters that were entirely within the regulatory realm of the OPA. An
email from Sue Lo of the Ministry of Energy to multiple individuals in the Ministry stated
that Premier's office wanted to advance the schedule for awarding contracts, but that it
also wanted to set aside capacity for the Korean Consortium.826 The Premier's office also
expressed a preference for the connection‐point Rules change.827 This direction of the
details of the FIT Program, constituted a patent abuse of governmental and regulatory
authority, resulting in a violation of the Investor's rights.
724. Tailoring the FIT Program to suit the political needs and priorities of the Premier's office
compromised the independence of the regulatory process. Instead of administering the
FIT Program on independent and proscribed regulatory criteria, the Premier's office
added a layer of irrelevant political considerations, of which Mesa had no knowledge
and which then determined regulatory requirements which Mesa expected to be free of
political influence.
725. NextEra had direct access to the Premier's Office. Representatives of NextEra met with
members of the Premier's Office on October 5, 2010. However, no documents have
been produced by Canada addressing what occurred at that meeting or arising from it.
Jamison Steeve and Sean Mullin of the Premier's Office attended the meeting.828
726. Documents from the Ministry of Energy indicate that the Premier's office had
preferences regarding the Bruce to Milton Capacity Allocation Process.829 Canada has
not produced any communications between the Ministry of Energy and the Premier's
Office that evidence how the Ministry of Energy came to have this knowledge.830
Documents have also not been produced for a May 11, 2011 meeting between NextEra
and the Ministry of Energy and follow‐up phone call on May 13, 2011.831
826 Email from Sue Lo (Ministry of Energy) to Pearl Ing and Sunita Chander (Ministry of Energy), May 12, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0083) 827 Email from Sue Lo (Ministry of Energy) to Pearl Ing and Sunita Chander (Ministry of Energy), May 12, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0083) 828 Email from Bob Lopinski (Counsel Public Affairs) to Sonya Rachel Konzak (Ministry of Energy), Shantie Prithipal
(Ministry of Energy), Sue Lo, and Rick Jennings (Ministry of Energy), September 20, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0094) These missing documents are covered by Investor's Document Request No. 56 (relating to documents created or received by the IESO, OPA, Hydro One, Ministry of Energy, and the Premier's Office with respect to NextEra's projects).
829 Email from Sue Lo to Andrew Mitchell, May 19, 2011, (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0023) and Email from Pearl Ing to Sue Lo and Sunita Chander, May 12, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0083)
830 These documents are also covered by Investor's Document Request No. 56. 831 E‐mail from Phil Dewan (Counsel Public Affairs) to Sue Lo (Ministry of Energy), May 12, 2011 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0090)
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iii. OPA unfairly permitted enabler requested projects to select connection points
727. FIT Proponents had the opportunity to identify a desired connection point in their FIT
application. Those projects that did not select connection points were "enabler
requested", and required upgrades to be able to connect to the Ontario transmission
system. A project that was "enabler requested" did not go through the same process as
projects that had selected connection points.
728. Projects, like all those belonging to Mesa, which had selected connection points, were
able to receive a FIT contract offer through either a TAT or an ECT.832 Under the FIT
Rules, an "enabler requested" project could only receive a FIT contract offer through an
ECT.833 There was no provision in the FIT Rules that allowed an enabler requested
project to select a connection point in advance of either a TAT or an ECT.
729. NextEra's Bluewater and Jericho projects were enabler requested projects, and were
listed as such in the FIT rankings. 834 Because the projects were "enabler requested",
they required a newly constructed "enabler" facility to connect to the transmission grid.
They would not have such a facility under the established FIT process.835
730. Prior to the connection point Rules change, the Bluewater and Jericho projects were
ranked 6th and 9th respectively on the FIT Priority Ranking.836 When the Rules were
changed, both Bluewater and Jericho, which had been ranked in the West of London
Region, opted to change connection points to connection points in the Bruce Region.
Ultimately, both Bluewater and Jericho were awarded FIT contracts in the Bruce Region.
731. Contrary to the draft that had been circulated internally within the OPA, the final
connection point Rules change excluded the restriction on enabler projects and
permitted all proponents within the Bruce and West of London Regions to change their
connection points:
"Only applications submitted between October 1, 2009 to June 4, 2010, and that are currently listed in the Priority Ranking in the Bruce Transmission Area or the West of London Transmission Area...are eligible to submit a connection point amendment request."837
832 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.4, December 8, 2010, Sections 5.2 and 5.4
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0239) 833 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.4, December 8, 2010, Section 5.4
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0239) 834 OPA FIT Priority Ranking list, December 21, 2010, at p. 6 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0073) 835 Ontario Power Authority presentation, "The Economic Connection Test ‐ Approach, Metrics and Process", May
19, 2010, at p. 45 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0088) 836 FIT Priority Ranking by Region, June 3, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0225) 837 Email from Patricia Lightburn (OPA) to Alexandra Wiles (OPA), June 3, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0156); Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, Form, "Request for Connection Point Amendment", Undated (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0247)
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Re: Mesa Power Group v. Canada November 20, 2013
732. The only beneficiary of the decision to include enabler requested projects in the
connection change window was NextEra. Its Bluewater and Jericho projects were the
only enabler‐requested projects in the West of London Region.838 They also were the
only enabler‐requested projects in either the Bruce or West of London Region to change
their status and select a connection point during the Rules change window.839
733. The OPA thereby unfairly and discriminatorily changed the FIT Rules, in a non‐
transparent manner, to the benefit of NextEra and the detriment of Mesa. The OPA had
explicitly excluded enabler requested projects from the Bruce‐to‐Milton contract
allocation process.840 Only those projects that had available transmission capacity at the
projects' identified connection point were to be awarded FIT contracts. To enable
NextEra to be awarded FIT contracts, the OPA had to do away with its stated distinction
between enabler requested projects and those that specified desired connection
points.841
734. The result of this deviation was that the OPA opened the experssly for NextEra who had
not indicated a connection point in the Bruce Region, and which were assigned to a
different Region, to jump the queue and receive contracts. As a direct consequence,
Mesa was deprived of the opportunity to fairly compete for those contracts.
iv. Failing to conduct an Economic Connection Test as required by the FIT Rules
735. The Economic Connection Test was set out in the FIT Rules as a means for projects that
were not awarded FIT contracts on completion of the TAT or DAT process to still
compete. Section 5.4(c) of the Rules states that a project would be "submitted to the
[ECT] as a result of not passing the Transmission availability Test," and that if a project
passed the ECT it would enter the FIT Production Line.842
736. Despite the Rules, and despite repeated assertions by the OPA that it would conduct
ECTs from the time of the inception of the FIT Program in September 2009 until the
elimination of the ECT process in August 2012, the OPA did not carry out a single ECT.
Mesa had relied on the Rules and the OPA's assertions, and had planned accordingly.
838 FIT Priority Ranking by Region, February 24, 2011, at pp. 8‐9 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0233) 839 Ontario Power Authority, "FIT Contract Offers for the Bruce‐Milton Capacity Allocation Process", July 4, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0292); Ontario Power Authority, "FIT Car Priority Ranking by Region", July 4, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0293)
840 Ontario Power Authority, "Questions and Answers, Bruce to Milton Contract Allocation Process", June 8, 2011, at p. 1 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0291)
841 The FIT Rules have district provisions for those that are enabler requested projects. 842 Section 5.4(c) is found in all versions of the FIT Rules through Version 1.5.1. Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In
Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.5.1, July 15, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0237)
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What it did not know and was never told, was that its reliance was misplaced, as no ECT
would be conducted.
737. The prospect of an ECT as a gateway to obtaining a FIT contract was a significant factor
relied on by Mesa in deciding to submit a FIT application.
738. Section 5.4(a) of the FIT Rules explicitly stated that "The Economic Connection Test will
be run for each region of the Province at least every six months."843 The language of the
FIT Rules for the ECT remained the same through Version 1.5, published on June 3,
2011.844 Accordingly, Mesa expected its projects to go through the ECT as part of the
competition process, and that the ECT would follow the steps prescribed in the FIT
Rules.
739. The first TAT for the FIT Program took place in the Spring of 2010. On April 8, 2010, the
OPA announced the first round of FIT contract offers following the TAT. As set out in six
contracts were offered in the West of London Region, totalling 230.7 MWs. Only 1
project was offered a contract in the Bruce Region. At that time, transmission capacity in
the Bruce Region was limited, because the Bruce to Milton line, which was explicitly
sanctioned to enable the transmission of electricity generated by renewable energy
projects, was not yet operational.
740. Mesa was notified on April 8, 2010 that its TTD Wind Energy and Arran Wind Energy
projects were not successful in the TAT and that the projects would proceed to the next
Economic Connection Test, "which is scheduled to be performed during the summer of
this year."845 Significantly, this letter was sent to all FIT applicants who had specified
connection points in the Bruce Region, as the Bruce to Milton line was not yet
operational.846 A FIT program update released by the OPA on the same day, stated that
"[t]he first [ECT] will start in August/September."847
741. The next month, on May 19, 2010, the OPA gave a presentation to FIT applicants
providing them with information about the ECT process. As part of the presentation, the
OPA set out the following schedule and key dates for the first ECT:848
843 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In‐Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.0, September 24, 2009, Section 5.4(a)
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0260) 844 FIT Rules Version 1.5, June 3, 2011, Page 9 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0005) 845 Letter from JoAnne Butler, Ontario Power Authority, to Charles Edey, April 8, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0182) 846 Magnum Wind Energy Corp. Zurich project, a microFIT project, received a contract in the Bruce Region. FIT
Contract Awards, April 8, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0400) 847 Ontario Power Authority, News Release, "Ontario Announces 184 Large‐Scale Renewable Energy Projects", April
8, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0080) 848 Ontario Power Authority presentation, "The Economic Connection Test ‐ Approach, Metrics and Process", May
19, 2010, Page 39 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0088)
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a) June 4, 2010 – Deadline for submitting new FIT applications to be eligible for the
upcoming ECT; and
b) Early August – Planned start of ECT.
742. Shortly thereafter, on June 1, 2010, the OPA announced an update to the FIT Program
that provided a detailed timeline for the processing of FIT applications. Again, the OPA
stated that the start date for the first ECT was early August 2010. 849
743. However, no ECT was conducted by the OPA in August, 2010.
744. On October 18, 2010, the OPA announced, as part of another Program update, that the
timing of the ECT would be posted shortly:
An update on the timing of the ECT and the preceding activities, including the window to change a project's connection point and the priority ranking of projects pending ECT, will be posted shortly.850
No such update was ever posted by the OPA. Nonetheless, on December 21, 2010, Mesa
was once again told by the OPA that its projects would be included in the upcoming
ECT.851
745. The OPA continued to make public representations through February 24, 2011.852 On
February 24, 2011, the OPA released an updated priority ranking list for FIT projects.853
In addition to projects applied for within the launch period, these rankings included
projects applied for in the second round of FIT applications. Even with the addition of
second round projects, Mesa's Arran and TTD projects retained their ranking positions
of 8 and 9 in the Bruce Region.854 On the same day, the OPA announced contract awards
for the second round of FIT applications. Included in the announcement was the
following statement:
Applicants who were not awarded contracts because transmission capacity is not currently available have been added to the priority ranking list and will proceed to the Economic Connection Test.855
849 OPA, Program Update – FIT Program Timeline, June 1, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0235) 850 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, Program Update, "FIT Program Up Timeline", October 18,
2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0257) 851 Ontario Power Authority, Priority ranking for First Round FIT Contracts, December 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule
of Exhibits at C‐0073) 852 Ontario Power Authority Presentation re The The Economic Connection Test‐ Approach, Metrics and Process,
May 19, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0088); Ontario Power Authority, News Release, "Ontario Announces Second Round Of Large‐Scale Renewable Energy Projects", February 24, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0009)
853 Ontario Power Authority, News Release, "Ontario Announces Second Round Of Large‐Scale Renewable Energy Projects", February 24, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0009)
854 FIT Priority Ranking by Region, February 24, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0233) 855 Ontario Power Authority, News Release, "Ontario Announces Second Round Of Large‐Scale Renewable Energy
Projects", February 24, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0009)
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746. However, by March 2011, the OPA had begun to internally acknowledge that the ECT
would not be run as planned. In a March 21, 2011 internal presentation, the OPA spoke
of a "reduced‐scope ECT", and acknowledged the effect of such a reduced‐scope ECT
would be that "Proponents will be angry."856
747. By this time, all of the events that had been contemplated in the timelines provided to
proponents in the June 2010 and October 2010 OPA updates, as prerequisites to the
ECT process, had occurred.857 The second round of FIT applications had been reviewed
and approved; the TAT/DAT process for second round projects had been run; and
contract offers for second round projects following the TAT/DAT process had been
made. Despite this, no ECT was conducted.
748. Instead, on June 3, 2011, the OPA announced the Bruce‐to‐Milton Capacity Allocation
process, and a five‐day window for proponents in the Bruce and West of London
transmission regions to change connection points between the two regions. During the
five‐day window (June 6 – 11), NextEra changed the connection points for four of its
projects from the West of London Region to the Bruce Region. This in turn bumped
Mesa's Arran and Twenty Two Degree wind projects from the final Bruce Region priority
ranking list, so that neither of these projects could receive FIT contracts.
749. When the June 3, 2011 announcement was made, the Ministry of Energy knew the ECT
was not going to occur. An internal document prepared by the OPA on April 28, 2011
titled "ECT Communications Strategy KJ", reveals that the ECT tests were no longer
planned. Under the heading "Be transparent", it states:
Proponents have been waiting a long time for information about the ECT. It will be important to be clear and transparent about the fact that the ECT is not proceeding and the next steps in the evolution of the FIT program i.e. the two year review.858
The proponents, however, were never told.
750.
A later version of the document adjusted the wording to simply say
856 Ontario Power Authority presentation, "Economic Connection Test (ECT) & Program Evolution, March 21, 2011,
at p. 5 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0170) 857 OPA, Program Update – FIT Program Timeline, June 1, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0235); Ontario
Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, Program Update, "FIT Program Up Timeline", October 18, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0257)
858 Email from Kristen Jenkins (OPA) to Craig MacLennan (Ministry of Energy), April 29, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐ 0165)
859 Ministry of Energy, Draft presentation, "DRAFT Bruce to Milton Next Steps", May 11, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0163)
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"the application of the ECT process is no longer needed."860 But again, the proponents
were never told.
751. To the contrary, despite what the Ministry and the OPA actually knew, the
announcement of the Bruce‐to‐Milton Capacity Allocation process, on June 3, 2011,
misrepresented to proponents, that an ECT still would take place:
Projects that did not receive contract offers through the Bruce to Milton Capacity Allocation will remain on the priority ranking list. The OPA continues its work on the ECT process.861
752. In anticipation of contract offers, Mesa continued to develop its FIT projects since the
OPA continued to represent to proponents that there would be an ECT, Mesa Power
spent considerable time, resources and money to ensure that its projects would be
"shovel‐ready" and economical to implement.862
753. The ECT, however, was never conducted.863
754. In not carrying out an ECT, the OPA failed to adhere to its own rules governing the FIT
process and failed to communicate honestly and transparently with Mesa about how
the FIT Program was actually being administered. Furthermore, it denied Mesa a means
of obtaining a FIT contract offer that had been expressly set out in the FIT Rules.
v. Mesa Power expected its projects to participate in the ECT in 2010, and not conducting the ECT deprived Mesa of the opportunity to compete for a FIT contract
755. Mesa Power submitted FIT applications for two wind projects (Arran and TTD) during
the launch period, and FIT applications for two additional wind projects (Summerhill and
North Bruce) in March 2010. Because all four project applications were submitted prior
to the deadline of June 4, 2010, all of Mesa's projects qualified for the first ECT.864
756. Mesa relied on the FIT Rules and the representations of the OPA that it would conduct
an ECT, and that its projects would be included in the process.
860 Ministry of Energy Draft Presentation, Bruce to Milton Next Steps, May 11, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits
at C‐0315) 861 Ontario Power Authority, Allocating Capacity and Offering FIT Contracts for Bruce to Milton Enabled Projects,
June 3, 2011 (Emphasis added.) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0140) 862 CWS ‐ Robertson, at para. 38. 863 Transcript of the Cross‐Examination of JoAnne Butler on August 15, 2012 regarding the Divisional Court Court
File No. 352112, between Skypower CL 1 LP, et al, and Minister of Energy (Ontario) and Ontario Power Authority. ["Cross‐Examination of Joanne Butler"] (320: 19‐20) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0168)
864 Ontario Power Authority, Presentation, "The Economic Connection Test ‐ Approach, Metrics and Process", May 19, 2010, Page 39 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0088)
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757. According to the OPA's presentation of May 19, 2010, there were three possible
outcomes for projects that participated in the ECT:865
a) Remain in the FIT Reserve (if sufficient capability was not available and be includedin
the next ECT);
b) Move to the FIT Production Line (if there is sufficient existing or planned capability
throughout the transmission and distribution system); or
c) Receive a contract offer.
758. Based on these possible outcomes, if Mesa's projects had participated in an ECT, it
would have had the opportunity to receive a contract on completion of the test. By
delaying the ECT, the OPA thereby denied contracts to projects that would have been
successful in the ECT.
759. If an ECT had been conducted in accordance with the FIT Rules and the representations
made to Mesa, Mesa's Arran and TTD projects would have qualified for FIT contract
given their respective priority rankings.866 As no ECT was conducted prior to the Bruce‐
to‐Milton allocation process, Mesa was deprived of the opportunity to secure contracts
for these projects that the OPA had led Mesa to expect would be forthcoming based on
the established Rules of the FIT Program.
vi. The failure to conduct an ECT prior to the Bruce‐to‐Milton Capacity Allocation process caused Mesa Power to lose contract awards
760. In August 2012, the OPA issued FIT Rules Version 2.0 which eliminated the ECT
process.867 The change resulted from a Directive from the Minister of Energy that stated
that "[g]iven the transmission projects planned through the Long Term Energy Plan and
changes to the FIT Program, the OPA shall not run the Economic Connection Test."868
761. At the time of the cancellation of the ECT process, the OPA had not conducted a single
ECT for projects applied for through the FIT Program, even though until then the FIT
Rules required they be conducted every six months.
762. The continued assurances by the OPA that an ECT would be forthcoming, did not cause
Mesa to expect that the ECT would never in fact occur. By knowingly misleading Mesa,
865 Ontario Power Authority, Presentation, "The Economic Connection Test ‐ Approach, Metrics and Process", May
19, 2010, Page 69‐72 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0088) 866 CWS ‐ Robertson, at para. 54(b). 867 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tarriff Program, FIT Rules, Version 2.0, August 10, 2012 (Investor's Schedule
of Exhibits at C‐0058) 868 Letter from Chris Bentley (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, April 5, 2012
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0052)
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the OPA abused its authority, and failed its basic obligation to act with Mesa in good
faith.
vii. Delay in the FIT process in order to benefit Samsung and its partners
763. Mesa was prejudiced by unfair and non‐transparent deviations from the FIT Rules. At
the time it applied for its projects, Mesa expected regulators to administer the FIT
Program in good faith. It did not expect them to be engaged in a behind‐the‐scenes
effort that undermined the FIT Program, and prevented it from being administered
honestly, fairly, with transparency and in good faith.869
764. The priority transmission access granted to the Korean Consortium resulted in the delay
of the ECT and the award of FIT contracts in the Bruce Region.
765. According to the plan set out by the OPA and represented to Mesa, initial FIT contracts
were to be awarded in three stages.870 The first round of contracts was to be awarded
following the running of a TAT for projects applied for during the FIT launch period
(between October and November 2010). The second round of contracts was to be
awarded following the running of a second TAT for projects applied for during the
second round of FIT applications (between December 2009 and June 2010). The third
round of contracts was to be awarded following the conduct of an ECT encompassing all
FIT projects that had not been awarded contracts in the first two rounds.
766. The first round of FIT contracts was awarded in April 2010.871 Although Mesa's TTD and
Arran projects were eligible for contracts during this round, it did not receive any. Thus,
Mesa awaited the ECT for the next scheduled opportunity to receive FIT contracts. The
ECT process, however, could not begin until the TAT for second round FIT applicants was
completed.872
767. Because the government had secretly reserved transmission capacity for the Korean
Consortium in the Bruce Region873, and because, under the GEIA, access to this
transmission capacity was to be "priority"874, the OPA could not conduct the TAT for
second‐round FIT applicants in the Bruce Region until the Korean Consortium finalized
869 CWS ‐ Robertson, at para. 58. 870 Ontario Power Authority, Presentation, "The Economic Connection Test Process", March 23, 2010, at p. 16
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0034) 871 Ontario Power Authority, News Release, "Ontario Announces 184 Large‐Scale Renewable Energy Projects", April
8, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0080) 872 Ontario Power Authority, Presentation, "The Economic Connection Test Process", March 23, 2010, at p. 16
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0034) 873 Letter from Brad Duguid (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, September 17,
2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0119) 874 Green Energy Investment Agreement, January 21, 2010, section 7.3(c) (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0322)
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the connection points for its Phase 2 projects in the Region. As stated by Ministry of
Energy official Cieran Bishop,
KC's commitment on connection points before the release of TAT…assure their priority access is
factored into transmission availability – so any contract awards that come out of TAT will take
KC's phases to date (1, 2, 3) into account.875
768. Because the conduct of a TAT for second‐round FIT applicants was a necessary step
before an ECT, the Korean Consortium's finalization of connection points was a
precondition for the ECT as well. The selection fo connection points by the Korean
Consortium was necessary and thereby for the award of FIT contracts resulting from the
ECT.876
769. The Korean Consortium provided provisional connection points for its Phase 2 projects
to the OPA on September 30, 2010.877 This allowed the TAT for second‐round FIT
projects in the Bruce Region to begin. However the process could not be completed, and
the ECT could not be started, until the Korean Consortium provided final confirmation of
its connection points.878 This occurred on January 7, 2011.879
770. However, even after the Korean Consortium
771. This latitude given to the Korean Consortium regarding their connection points was a
source of consternation for some OPA officials. A few days after the Korean
Consortium's submission, Bob Chow emphasized that finality regarding the Korean
Consortium's connection points was a "major consideration" for the OPA, and stated
that "[w]e can't be uncertain with the KC going into ECT". He urged that the OPA "be
firm here with KC" to "maintain transparency and process integrity".881 However, the
875 Email from Ceiran Bishop (Ministry of Energy) to Samira Viswanathan (Ministry of Energy) and Faruq Remtulla
(Ministry of Energy), November 18, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0159) 876 2011 Auditor General's Report, Chapter 3 – Electricity Sector – Renewable Energy Initiatives, at p. 116
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228) 877 Ministry of Energy Presentation, October 1, 2010, at p. 2 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0093) 878 Email from Kristin Jenkins (OPA) to Andrew Mitchell (Ministry of Energy) et al., November 22, 2010 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐P04489 C‐0071) 879 Email from Barbara Constantinescu (IESO) to Bob Chow (OPA), John Sabiston (Hydro One), January 11, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0070) 880 Email from Barbara Constantinescu (IESO) to Bob Chow (OPA), John Sabiston (Hydro One), January 11, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0070) 881 Email from Barbara Constantinescu (IESO) to Bob Chow (OPA), John Sabiston (Hydro One), January 11, 2011
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0070)
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authorities did not followed Mr. Chow's advice. Indeed, the Korean Consortium was
permitted to change connection points for its projects in the Bruce Region a mere week
prior to the signing of PPAs for the projects.882
772. Because the Korean Consortium did not to finalize its connection points, the TAT for
second‐round FIT applicants was not completed until the end of February 2011 – more
than two months later than anticipated883 – and the ECT for all FIT applicants was never
conducted at all.
773. That the Korean Consortium was the cause of the ECT delay, and the resulting delay in
the awarding of FIT contracts is further attested to by Zohrab Mawani. Mr. Mawani
states that "PPAs under the FIT Program could only be awarded after manufacturing,
transmission access, and selection of site provisions in the GEIA were adequately
addressed", and observes that because the Korean Consortium did not resolve these
matters, "effectively resulted in a freeze on other projects that were to receive
contracts under the FIT program."884
774. The Ontario Auditor General also concluded that the "commitment to the [Korean]
consortium affected the FIT contract allocation process and the timely connection of
renewable energy projects from other generators".885 While the OPA was striving to
accommodate the Korean Consortium's preferred timeline for project acquisition and
planning, Mesa was being kept hostage to changes and delays outside of its control and
contrary to what it was led to expect.
775. If the ECT process had not been delayed by government pandering to the Korean
Consortium, and the established process of awarding FIT contracts had been conducted
as scheduled, NextEra would not have been permitted to change connection points for
its projects in the West of London Region and Mesa would have received a FIT contract.
776. The government's reservation of 500 MW of capacity in the Bruce Region for the Korean
Consortium also prevented Mesa from receiving a FIT contract. If this capacity had been
reserved for FIT projects, and allocated to the Bruce‐to‐Milton process, Mesa would
have been awarded a FIT contract for both its TTD and Arran projects. Even after the
June 3rd Rules change, that allowed NextEra to move its Bluewater and Jericho projects
to the Bruce Region, Mesa's TTD and Arran projects were both within the top 1250 MW
882 Email from Lee‐Jeong Tack (Samsung) to Carolyn Calwell (MOE), July 26, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0208) 883 Email from Kristin Jenkins (OPA) to Andrew Mitchell (Ministry of Energy) et al., November 22, 2010 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0071) 884 Declaration of Zohrab Mawani, August 15, 2013, at para. 32 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0406) 885 2011 Auditor General's Report, Chapter 3 – Electricity Sector – Renewable Energy Initiatives, at p. 116
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0228)
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in the Bruce Region, and thus would have been able to be connect through the
transmission capacity enabled in the Region by the Bruce‐to‐Milton line.886
viii. Failure to give reasons regarding the ranking process and the June 3, 2011 Rules changes
777. On May 20, 2011, Mesa wrote to Shawn Cronkwright, OPA Director, Renewables
Procurement to confirm their understanding of the ranking system: 887
Our understanding of the OPA process is that all projects were assessed and placed in the FIT CAR Priority ranking based on the existing capacity at the particular interconnection listed in the application. Further, we understand the ranking took an explicit consideration of the number of acceleration days, We would greatly appreciate your feedback as to whether we have interpreted the OPA process correctly.888
778. The OPA ignored Mesa's letter and chose to not respond until June 17, 2011, at the end
of the contract offer process for the Bruce Region, and most importantly, after FIT Rules
version 1.5 was published, which enabled projects in the West of London Region to
move into Bruce Region.889
779. The OPA's deliberate delay in response and patent non‐transparency with Mesa, was in
itself a violation of the policy as set out in the FIT Rules which permitted:
The fundamental objective of the program is to facilitate the increased development of Renewable Generating Facilities…via a standardized, open and fair process.890
780. Mesa's letter of May 20, 2011 listed in detail the breakdown of Twenty Two Degree and
Arran's Commercial Operation Date ("COD") acceleration days calculation along with
their date of first lease and dollars spent to date.891 The OPA's delayed response did not
provide confirmation of Mesa's COD calculations,892 and the OPA declined to provide any
886 Ontario Power Authority, "FIT Car Priority Ranking by Region", July 4, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0293) 887 Letter from Mark Ward (Mesa), Chuck Edey (Leader Resources) and Michael Bernstein (Capstone Infrastructure)
to Shawn Cronkwright (OPA), May 20, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0098) Notes on the OPA Bruce Region Priority Rankings, Undated (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0074)
888 Letter from Mark Ward (Mesa), Chuck Edey (Leader Resources) and Michael Bernstein (Capstone Infrastructure) to Shawn Cronkwright (OPA), May 20, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0098)
889 Letter from Shawn Cronkwright, Ontario Power Authority, to Mark Ward, Mesa Power Power Group LLC, Charles Edey, Leader Resources Services Corp. and Michael Bernstein, Capstone Infrastructure Corp., June 17, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0195)
890 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009, Section 1.1 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258); Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 2.0 comparison to draft, August 10, 2012, Section 1.1 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0060)
891 Letter from Mark Ward (Mesa), Chuck Edey (Leader Resources) and Michael Bernstein (Capstone Infrastructure) to Shawn Cronkwright (OPA), May 20, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0098)
892 Letter from Shawn Cronkwright, Ontario Power Authority, to Mark Ward, Mesa Power Power Group LLC, Charles Edey, Leader Resources Services Corp. and Michael Bernstein, Capstone Infrastructure Corp., June 17, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0195)
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further information regarding the criteria score of Mesa's projects and their rankings on
the purported basis that the information was confidential.893
781. In the result, Mesa was never provided with its actual COD Acceleration Days score and
evaluated ranking.
782. The refusal by Ontario and the OPA to disclose this information, even in the document
production process, amounts to arbitrary abuse of authority, and a violation of Mesa's
right to a fair, good faith and transparent process as protected by Article 1105.
ix. The MOE and the OPA failed to give reasons and explanations of the FIT ranking process to the Investor
783. On June 9, 2011, Michael Bernstein, President and CEO of Capstone Infrastructure Corp.,
contacted David Lindsay, Deputy Minister of Energy, on behalf of Mesa Power Group to
request a call or a meeting to discuss the June 3, 2011 Directive, the Rules change, and
Mesa's project rankings.894
784. Several days later, on June 13, 2011, Chris Benedetti of Sussex Strategy Group,
contacted Shawn Cronkwright, OPA Director, on behalf of Mesa to request a meeting to
clarify the information used by the OPA to develop the rankings.895
785. On June 15, 2011, Michelle Wasylyshen of Sussex Strategy Group contacted Sue Lo,
Assistant Deputy Minister of the Renewables and Energy Efficiency Division at the
Ministry of Energy to reiterate Mesa's concerns with the OPA's rankings.896
786. Mesa repeatedly attempted to contact the OPA after the OPA failed to give clear
explanation with regards to the Investor's rankings in their response letter of June 17,
2011.
787. On June 17, 2011, immediately upon receiving the OPA's response to its May 20, 2011
letter, Mesa contacted Mr. Cronkwright again, to request a meeting to clarify the FIT
ranking criteria assessment. 897
893 Letter from Shawn Cronkwright, Ontario Power Authority, to Mark Ward, Mesa Power Power Group LLC,
Charles Edey, Leader Resources Services Corp. and Michael Bernstein, Capstone Infrastructure Corp., June 17, 2011. The OPA claimed in their response letter that "Consistent with all OPA procurement process, once the evaluation process has been completed, the results are kept strictly confidential." (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0195)
894 Email from Samira Viswanathan (Ministry of Energy) to Sunita Chander (Ministry of Energy), June 10, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0096)
895 Email from Chris Benedetti (Sussex Strategy) to Shawn Cronkwright (OPA), June 13, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0162)
896 Email from Michelle Wasylyshen to Sue Lo, June 15, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0226) 897 CWS ‐ Robertson, at para. 46.
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788. On June 21, 2011, Chris Benedetti told Mesa that the Ministry of Energy and the
Premier's Office "supports sitting down with the OPA as soon as possible to ensure that
no mistakes were made (in advance of award contracts)." 898
789. On June 22, 2011, Mr. Cronkwright told Mesa that the OPA was offering FIT contracts
and it would be unfair to give Mesa special access. He stated that the OPA is not
accepting meetings from proponents in the Bruce or West of London Region in
connection with this process,899 so the OPA did not want to meet with Mesa.
790. On July 4, 2011, FIT Contracts were awarded. On the same day, Mark Ward, Managing
Director of Mesa wrote to Colin Anderson, Minister Brad Duguid, Minister Carol
Mitchell, Minister Sandra Pupatello, and Premier Dalton McGuinty to express Mesa's
shock at the FIT announcement. Specifically, Mesa asked how it could be possible for
"one generator, with a majority of original applications never even on Bruce area lines
could be awarded six contracts totalling more than 460 MW." Mesa again requested a
meeting with the government departments involved to discuss the TTD and Arran
projects in the context of the FIT contracts awarded and Mesa's current and future
investments in Ontario. Mesa was never given the courtesy of a meeting, or any reason
or explanation of why it did not receive a contract, or the opportunity to make any
representations about the decision being in error.900 Indeed, for TTD and Arran, Mesa
did not even receive notice that it had not received contract offers.901
791. On July 7, 2011, The Ministry of Energy prepared a draft meeting note with an agenda
item to discuss and "alleged mistake in the OPA priority rankings affecting the Arrran
Wind Energy and Twenty Two Degree Energy projects."902 However, on July 8, 2011,
Mesa was told that Minister Duguid had no desire to meet.903
792. Ten days later, on July 14, 2011, the OPA wrote to Mesa advising that it too would not
meet.904 Nor did the Ministry suggest any alternative channel or means whereby Mesa
might pursue answers to its concerns.
898 CWS ‐ Robertson, at para. 46. 899 CWS ‐ Robertson, at para. 48. 900 Letter from Mark Ward to Colin Anderson, July 4, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0186); Letter from
Mark Ward to Minister Brad Duguid, July 4, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0177); Letter from Mark Ward to Minister Carol Mitchell, July 4, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0175); Letter from Mark Ward (Mesa) to Minister Sandra Pupatello (Ministry of Economic Development and Trade), July 4, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0169); Letter from Mark Ward (Mesa) to Premier Dalton McGuinty, July 4, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0025)
901 CWS – Robertson, at para.53. 902 Ministry of Energy's draft meeting note prepared for a meeting with Leader Resources, July 7, 2011 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0189) 903 CWS ‐ Robertson, at para. 52. 904 Letter from Colin Andersen to Mark Ward, July 14, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0205)
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x. Unfair ranking of projects
793. The FIT Rules set out the basis for the ranking of projects. The "launch period" of the FIT
program was from October‐November 2012, during which time the first FIT applications
were accepted.905 Applications submitted within 60 days of Program Launch were
required to provide detailed information, and were to be scored on four criteria set out
in Section 13.4 of the Rules 906:
a) Whether the project was exempt from the Renewable Energy Approval Process.907
b) Whether the proponent guaranteed access to major equipment.908
c) Expertise in wind power development;909 and
d) Financial Capacity.910
794. The Rules also set out the steps for ranking launch period applications:
a) First, projects were ranked based upon the number of days that they are willing to
reduce the time between the Contract Date and the Milestone Date for Commercial
Operation of the project (defined in the rules as "COD Acceleration Days"). The COD
Acceleration Days were subject to a minimum of zero days and a maximum of 365
calendar days.
b) If two or more launch applications proposed the same number of COD Acceleration
Days, projects were ranked on Criteria Score. The Criteria Score was calculated by
adding the COD Acceleration Days (0‐365 calendar days) plus 90 calendar days for
each point awarded to the project under the four criteria.
c) Evidence of access rights date was to be used to break a tie between projects with
the same COD Acceleration Days and with the same Criteria Score. Launch
applications with the earliest Access Rights Date were ranked in priority.911
905 FIT Rules version 1.5 Section 13 ("Program Launch") sets out the information relevant to applications submitted
during that time frame (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0005) 906 These four criteria are set out at Section 13.4(a) of FIT Rules Version 1.1. Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff
Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258) 907 These four criteria are set out at Section 13.4(a) of FIT Rules Version 1.1. Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff
Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258) 908 The Domestic Content Grid is listed under Exhibit D of the FIT Rules. Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff
Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258) 909 These four criteria are set out at Section 13.4(a) of FIT Rules Version 1.1. Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff
Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258) 910 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In‐Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.0, September 24, 2009, Section 13.4
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0260) 911 The FIT Rules define Access Rights Dates as the date that access rights were first acquired by the applicant or
the rights to the location were first acquired by the applicant. FIT Standard Definitions, Version 1.1 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0416)
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d) If two or more launch application proposed the same number of COD Acceleration
Days, had the same Criteria Score, and had the same Access Rights Date, the time
stamp was to be assigned in relative priority to one another by random draw.
795. This ranking process only applied to launch applications. Projects submitted after the
launch period were ranked according to their timestamp.
796. Each project received a province wide ranking, and was then organized by transmission
region and received a particular ranking for its transmission region.
797. When Mesa submitted its applications for the TTD and Arran projects in November
2009, Mesa fulfilled all the requirements for
Because Mesa was, as a result,
798. For those projects with the same COD Acceleration days and criteria score, the projects
are ranked by the earliest lease date which acted as a tie breaker.916 Mesa's lease dates
for the TTD and Arran projects were November 3, 2003917 and July 9, 2006,918
respectively.
912 TTD Wind Project application, Confirmation Letter, at p. 103 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0364) ; Arran
Wind Project FIT Application, December 2, 2009, at p. 102 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibita at C‐0129) 913 Leader Resources, the developers of Mesa's projects, have more than five years of experience developing and
planning similar facilities. See FIT Application, Arran Wind Project, November 25, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0129) and FIT Application, TTD Wind Project, November 25, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0364)
914 Mesa provided the financial statements for both GE and Mesa, which indicated sufficient financial ability. See FIT Application, Arran Wind Project, November 25, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0129) and FIT Application, TTD Wind Project, November 25, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0364)
915 Mesa never received confirmation of this calculation. Mesa wrote to the OPA on May 20, 2011 requesting a confirmation of their understanding of the ranking system and confirmation that the lease date stated on their application was the lease date used by the OPA. Letter from Mark Ward (Mesa), Chuck Edey (Leader Resources) and Michael Bernstein (Capstone Infrastructure) to Shawn Cronkwright (OPA), May 20, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0098) ; The OPA responded to this letter on June 17, 2011, and confirmed that Mesa's understanding of the ranking system was correct, but did not confirm that their calculation of COD acceleration days was correct (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0195)
916 Where projects have the same COD Acceleration days, the projects are ranked by the earliest lease date. Section 13.5(c) of the FIT Rules version 1.1 states: "Where two or more Launch Applications propose the same number of COD Acceleration days, those Launch Applications will be assigned a Time Stamp in relative priority to one another such that Launch Applications with an earlier Access Rights Date shall be assigned an earlier Time Stamp than those Launch Applications with a later Access Date." [emphasis added] Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258)
917 Agreement To Grant Exclusive License and Option for Exclusive Easement to Twenty Two Degree Energy Corp., between Twenty Two Degree Energy Corp. and Frederick Dirk Van Maar and Arlene Joyce Van Maar, November 3, 2003 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0265)
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799. The initial project rankings were issued on December 21, 2010.919 Mesa projects Twenty
Two Degrees and Arran were ranked at 8 and 9 respectively for the Bruce Region, and in
both cases were within the top 700 MW of allocated capacity.
800. Canada has failed to produce communications between the Ministry of Energy and the
OPA addressing the concerns raised by Mesa over its project rankings. The Investor has
only seen a draft of a meeting note that was prepared in response to its complaint.920 No
final version of this note has been produced to Mesa by Canada.
xi. The 2010 project ranking under the FIT Program was arbitrary
801. Mesa's ranking score was 8th for TTD Wind Energy project, and 9th for Arran Wind
Energy project, in the Bruce transmission area.921 These ranks were ostensibly
determined on the project's number of COD (Commercial Operation Date) acceleration
days. Mesa's projects had the following calculated COD days:
a) out of 735 possible acceleration days, for its TTD Wind
Energy project;922 and
b) out of 735 possible acceleration days, for its Arran
Wind Energy project.923
802. Other projects, such as Skyway 127, were given higher rankings than Mesa, although
they did not have any qualifications that exceeded those of Mesa.924
803.
804. However, both of Mesa's projects . Mesa's
lease dates for TTD and Arran were November 3, 2003925 and July 9, 2006926.
respectively. Skyway 127's earliest lease date was July 24, 2008.927
918 Agreement to Grant Exclusive Licence and Option for Exclusve Easement from Paul Faust to Leader Resources
Corp., July 19, 2006 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0072) 919 Ontario Power Authority, Priority ranking for First Round FIT Contracts, December 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule
of Exhibits at C‐0073) 920 Ministry of Energy Meeting Note on Leader Resources, July 7, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0189).
These documents are covered by Investors Document Request No. 47 (relating to the Investor's ranking and Criteria Score) and Document Request No. 48 (relating to Mark Ward's letter of May 20, 2011).
921 FIT CAR Priority Ranking by Region, June 3, 2011. 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0225) 922 Online FIT Application for Twenty Two Degree, June 17, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0155) 923 Online OPA FIT application, Arran Wind Energy (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0188) 924 Option to Lease and Easement Agreement, between Skyway 127 Wind Energy Inc. and Ryan and LeeAnn Wolfe,
July 24, 2008 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0167) 925 Agreement To Grant Exclusive License and Option for Exclusive Easement to Twenty Two Degree Energy Corp.,
between Twenty Two Degree Energy Corp. and Frederick Dirk Van Maar and Arlene Joyce Van Maar, November 3, 2003 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0265)
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805. Therefore, the OPA failed to apply its own Rules regarding what was to occur in the
event of a tie of COD acceleration days, and arbitrarily ranked TTD and Arran below
Skyway 127.
806. The erroneous ranking of Mesa's TTD and Arran projects was done in an unfair and
arbitrary manner, resulting in Mesa not receiving a FIT contract.
xii. Failure to operate the FIT Program fairly and transparently was contrary to Mesa's reasonable and legitimate expectations
807. When Mesa made its application to the FIT Program it expected to take part in a fair
government program, regulated and administrered according to the FIT Rules. In
addition to the Rules of the FIT Program, Mesa relied on the governing principles of the
OPA, as stated in section 25.31 of the Electricity Act, 1988:
Procurement processes and selection criteria must be fair and clearly stated … open and accessible to a broad range of interested bidders. To the greatest extent possible, the procurement process must be a competitive process. There must be no conflicts of interest or unfair advantage allowed in the selection process.928
808. This requirement was emphasized by a commitment from the OPA that was written into
every version of the FIT Rules:
The fundamental objective of the program is to facilitate the increased development of Renewable Generating Facilities…via a standardized, open and fair process.929
809. Mesa expected, and was entitled to expect a stable, predictable, and standardized FIT
Program based on the FIT Rules for the process and on the OPA's stated objectives.
810. The OPA promised adherence to also listed guiding principles for the ECT assessment,
that reinforced Mesa's expectation of a fair and transparent process in accord with the
FIT Rules. In a presentation by the OPA to proponents on May 19, 2010, the OPA told
proponents that guiding principles for the Economic Connection Test Process were:
a) Consistency ‐ can it be applied equally across projects and locations?
b) Simplicity ‐ can it be manageably applied during the time frame allotted for the ECT?
c) Transparency ‐ can it be easily understood by stakeholders?
926 Agreement to Grant Exclusive Licence and Option for Exclusve Easement from Paul Faust to Leader Resources
Corp., July 19, 2006 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0072) 927 Option to Lease and Easement Agreement, between Skyway 127 Wind Energy Inc. and Ryan and LeeAnn Wolfe,
July 24, 2008 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0167) 928 Electricity Act, 1998, Ontario Regulation 426/04, Ontario Power Authority Procurement Process (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0401) 929 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009, Section 1.1
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258); Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 2.0 comparison to draft, August 10, 2012, Section 1.1 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0060)
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d) Balancing Policy Objectives ‐ does it appropriately balance generators' right to‐
connect and provincial rate payer impact?930
811. Mesa also expected that any changes to the ECT process as set out in the FIT Rules
would be promptly and clearly communicated to FIT proponents. The OPA itself
recognized its responsibility in this regard, and in the course of its consideration of
changes to the ECT process in early 2011, the OPA acknowledged that "FIT Rules and
communications will need to be coordinated to reflect the change to the ECT
process".931 It also acknowledged that failure to discharge this responsibility, or to
otherwise act in a manner that was "inconsistent with FIT principles", would "likely
trigger legal action against the Government and the OPA".932
812. Based on the FIT Rules, Mesa expected ECT assessments to be carried out once every six
months. However, the ECT assessments were never carried out, notwithstanding the
importance Mesa and its competitor proponents placed in them, and the repeated
representations of the OPA that they would be carried out.933
813. Mesa also relied on the regional connection points the OPA had set out, and reasonably
expected that they would be the basis for dividing the transmission grid and awarding
FIT contracts. However, the FIT Rules were discriminatorily and without notice changed
to permit applicants to change connection points between regions instead of only
within them.934
814. Canada did not produce any e‐mails, or internal documents, between the Ministry of
Energy and FIT Proponents regarding their respective FIT Rankings. As a result, there is
no evidence about the process taken by Ontario to develop or change the FIT Program
rankings.935 Relevant documents would include the following proponents:
a) NextEra b) Pattern c) Windrush d) Suncor
930 Ontario Power Authority presentation, "The Economic Connection Test ‐ Approach, Metrics and Process", May
19, 2010, at p. 18 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0088) 931 Ontario Power Authority presentation, "Economic Connection Test (ECT) & Program Evolution, March 21, 2011,
at p. 13 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0170) 932 Ontario Power Authority presentation, "Economic Connection Test (ECT) & Program Evolution, March 21, 2011,
at p. 10 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0170) 933 FIT Rules, Version 1.1, September 30, 2009, Section 5.4 (a) states "The Economic Connection Test will be run for
each region of the Province at least every six months." (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258) and Letter from Chris Bentley (Ministry of Energy) to Colin Andersen (OPA), Direction to the OPA, April 5, 2012 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0052)
934 FIT Rules, Version 1.5, June 3, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0005) 935 This was ordered in response to Investor's Document Request No. 8.
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e) Northland
815. Secret preferential treatment was also given to the Korean Consortium, which
undermined Mesa's expectation of a stable business and legal environment. When Mesa
made its investments in Ontario, it expected that its investment would be governed by
the Rule of Law, without secrets and hidden agendas that would undermine the
investment.
816. Mesa now knows, that while the FIT regulatory process was purportedly in operation, a
secret side‐deal was made with the Korean Consortium, and the OPA secretly was
amending the FIT Program to accommodate NextEra's projects to the detriment of
Mesa's. These actions stand in stark contrast to the FIT Program's stated objective of a
"standardized, open and fair process" – which is how an investor would expect a
regulatory process to unfold in Ontario.936 A comparison of how Mesa, NextEra, and the
Korean Consortium were each treated shows that there was nothing open, honest or
fair in how the Province and its agencies dealt with them.
817. Ontario chose to give preferential treatment to the Korean Consortium for political
purposes, as the GEIA had long been about the Ontario government's political priorities.
For example, when the construction of a wind tower plant in Windsor, Ontario, which
was intended to supply GEIA projects, announced in December 2010, Ontario's Finance
Minister Dwight Duncan effused that, "The McGuinty government's energy plan is
working."937 In September 2011 Premier McGuinty campaigned in London, Ontario on
the jobs he said would be created by the GEIA, and warned that his opponent in the
upcoming election "will kill those jobs."938 When Mesa invested in Ontario it did not
expect that its competitors would be given special preferential treatment because of
provincial government politics, contrary to the NAFTA, and contrary to the Rule of Law
enshrined in the NAFTA.
936 Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 1.1, September 30, 2009, Section 1.1
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0258); Ontario Power Authority, Feed‐In Tariff Program, FIT Rules Version 2.0 comparison to draft, August 10, 2012, Section 1.1 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0060)
937 Ministry of Energy, News Release, "New Wind Tower Plant Creates 700 Jobs in Windsor", December 1, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0013)
938 News Article, by Dale Carruthers, The London Free Press, "McGuinty plays his jobs card in London", September 9, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0130)
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PART FIVE: JURISDICTION
818. Canada has raised a jurisdictional question about the time the Notice of Arbitration in
this proceeding was submitted, and contends that it has not consented to the
arbitration of the Investor's claim relating to measures that first arose after April 4, 2011
(six months before the filing of the Notice of Arbitration).939
819. Canada also contends that the parties did not hold a consultation under NAFTA Article
1118.940 In support of this contention, Canada filed selective documents. But Canada
omitted to disclose the two key originating documents, which show that the request for
Article 1118 consultations was made by the Investor many months earlier.
820. In any event, Canada's contentions bare no relationship to the measures which are at
issue in this arbitration. Canada has simply contested dates within a series of continuing
wrongful acts, and outrageously presumes to invite this Tribunal to decline to exercise
jurisdiction because Canada continued in a course of conduct of internationally wrongful
behaviour.
821. The measures at issue in this arbitration began in November 2009, once Mesa made an
investment in Ontario941 and became subject to measures which were inconsistent with
Canada's NAFTA obligations. The fact that Canada did not take steps to stop or prevent
the wrongful treatment of Mesa cannot be a basis for making the dispute resolution
provisions of NAFTA Chapter Eleven ineffective. On the contrary, the failure of Canada
to stop or prevent wrongful governmental actions is a reason for this Tribunal to give
effect to the dispute resolution procedures of the NAFTA.
822. In Document Request No. 70, the Investor requested documents created or received by
"government entities" specifically relating to 12 individuals working at the Ministry of
Energy. On September 13, 2013, Canada only produced approximately 150 documents
in response to the Investor's Request, the majority of which were emails. The Investor's
Request was limited to those individuals who were identified as the likely key players in
the development and implementation of the FIT program.
823. Given the errors and irregularities with the management and operation of the FIT
Program that have been described, the fact that only 150 documents were produced in
939 Government of Canada's Objections to Jurisdiction, 3 December 2012 at para. 17. 940 Government of Canada's Objections to Jurisdiction, 3 December 2012 at paras. 15 ‐ 16. 941 Certificate of Incorporation for Arran Wind Project ULC (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0049); Certificate of
Incorporation for TTD Wind Project ULC under the Alberta Business Corporations Act, November 17, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0087) The remaining two wind farms were incorporated on April 6, 2010. Certificate of Incorporation for for the Summerhill Project ULC, under the Alberta Business Corporations Act, April 6, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0041); Certificate of Incorporation for North Bruce Project, ULC, April 6, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0050)
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response to a request for documents relating to 12 individuals is surprising. For
example, it appears that only one document related to Tamar Heisler was produced
(although not in relation to Request No. 70) and only a very few documents related to
Deputy Minister Lindsay were produced, despite his monthly meetings with the OPA.
824. NAFTA Article 102(2) provides that the NAFTA is to be interpreted in light of its
objectives in Article 102(1). Paragraph (e) of Article 102(1) confirms the NAFTA Parties
objective to:
Create effective procedures for the implementation and application of this Agreement, for its joint administration and for the resolution of disputes.
825. Canada's plenary consent to arbitration is contained expressly in Article 1120 of the
NAFTA. No further consent from Canada is needed. Furthermore, placing non‐bona fide
obstacles in the way of arbitration is highly inappropriate, and is a justifiable basis for
iposing serious cost penalties and moral damages on Canada.
826. In Procedural Order No. 3, the Tribunal determined that Canada's jurisdictional
questions would be heard with the merits of the Investor's claim.
827. The Tribunal subsequently determined that the substance of Canada's jurisdictional
questions was to be discerned from the pleadings exchanged by the disputing parties.
Canada, however, has refused to file a Statement of Defense in this arbitration. As a
result, the Investor can only surmise the basis for Canada's mischief making.
I. THE LEGAL CONTEXT
A. Interpretation
828. NAFTA Article 102(2) requires that the NAFTA be interpreted in light of its objectives,
which are set out in NAFTA Article 102(1), and include, in particular to:
e. Create effective procedures … for the resolution of disputes
829. Article 31 of the Vienna Convention of the Law of Treaties compels the same
interpretive mandate.
830. In this regard, the Ethyl Tribunal said:
Initially, there is an issue as to whether the phrase "events giving rise to a claim" is intended to include all events (or elements) required to constitute a claim, or instead some, at least, of the events leading to crystallization of a claim. The argument is made that the object and purpose of NAFTA, set forth in its Article 102(1)(c) and (e), to "increase substantially investment opportunities" and at the same time to "create effective procedures … for the resolution of disputes" would not be best served by a rule absolutely mandating a six‐month respite following the final effectiveness of a measure until the investor may proceed to arbitration. Had the NAFTA
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parties desired such rigidity, it is contended, they explicitly could have required passage of six months "since the adoption or maintenance of a measure giving rise to a claim."942
831. Similarly, in Pope & Talbot, where Canada objected to the Investor's inclusion of a claim
relating to a new stumpage fee that had not been specifically listed in the Statement of
Claim,943 the Tribunal determined that the Investor was challenging the statutory regime
as a whole, and that the challenge of the new fee was not a "'new' claim, but relate[d]
instead to a new element that ha[d] been recently grafted onto the overall Regime."944
The Tribunal said:
Lading [the NAFTA dispute resolution] process with a long list of mandatory preconditions, applicable without consideration of their context, would defeat [the] objective, [of "provid[ing] a mechanism for the settlement of investment disputes that assures ‘due process' before an impartial tribunal"], particularly if employed with draconian zeal.945
It must be remembered in considering the positions taken by the State Parties, that if their arguments prevailed, it would still be open to the Investor to instate a new claim to be handled by a new tribunal. It is difficult to see how the aims of Article 1115 would be furthered by resort to this duplication of effort.946
832. In Canada's attempt to frustrate this arbitration, Canada refers to two actions which
were mentioned in the Notice of Arbitration, but which were not in the Notice of Intent,
because they occurred after the filing of the Notice of Intent.947 The two actions are:
a) that Ontario withdrew its ability to terminate FIT contracts for cause; 948
b) that Ontario extended the term of the special preferences given to the Korean
Consortium by a year.949
Neither of these two events constituted a specific new breach of the NAFTA, but are
relevant to the evaluation of the continuing breaches at issue.
833. There is no prohibition in the NAFTA against the reference to relevant facts which relate
to the regulatory scheme in dispute in this arbitration. Reference to those facts does not
affect the jurisdiction of this Tribunal in any way. Neither of these actions constitute a
new breach of the NAFTA, but both are relevant to the quantification of damages in this
arbitration. And, even if these actions did constitute new breaches of the NAFTA, the
942 Ethyl Corp ‐ Jurisdicition Award, at para. 83 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐013) 943 Pope & Talbot Inc v. the Government of Canada, Award Concerning the Motion by Government of Canada
Respecting the Claim based upon imposition of the "Super Fee" (7 August 2000) ("Pope & Talbot ‐ Award "Super Fee""), at para. 6 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐156)
944 Pope & Talbot ‐ Award "Super Fee", at para. 25 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐156) 945 Pope & Talbot ‐ Award "Super Fee", at para. 26 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐156) 946 Pope & Talbot ‐ Award "Super Fee", at para. 26, footnote 4 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐156) 947 Government of Canada's Objections to Jurisdiction, 3 December 2012, at para. 14. 948 Investor's Notice of Arbitration, 4 October 2011, at para. 36. 949 Investor's Notice of Arbitration, 4 October 2011, at para. 37.
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Tribunal would still have jurisdiction over those breaches because they arise from the
same statutory and regulatory regime as the rest of the claim.950
834. In effect, Canada is asking this Tribunal to interpret Article 1120 as requiring the
Investor to wait six months after all of its possible claims have materialized, 951 rather
than six months after "a claim" has arisen, as Article 1120 plainly states is sufficient.
835. Canada's purported interpretation is not only contrary to the interpretive mandate of
NAFTA Article 102 and Article 31 of the Vienna Convention of the Law of Treaties, it
would be absurd to require an Investor to wait six months from every subsequent
breach of the NAFTA before it could bring a claim in respect of a prior breach. The result
would be that continuous and ongoing breaches would in effect bar a tribunal from ever
deciding a claim. As long as a the NAFTA Party kept committing wrongful acts against an
Investor, the Investor could never launch a claim. The NAFTA party could simply avoid
accountability for past wrongs by continuing to commit new wrongs.
836. Christoph Schreuer eloquently expresses the point in The Oxford Handbook of
International Investment Law:
It would seem that the question of whether a mandatory waiting period is jurisdictional or procedural is of secondary importance. What matters is whether or not there was a promising opportunity for a settlement. There would be little point in declining jurisdiction and sending the parties back to the negotiating table if these negotiations are obviously futile. Negotiations remain possible while the arbitration proceedings are pending. Even if the institution of arbitration was premature, compelling the claimant to start the proceedings anew would be a highly uneconomical solution. A better way to deal with non‐compliance with a waiting period may be a suspension of proceedings to allow additional time for negotiations if these appear promising.952
B. The Legal Regime of Articles 1120, 1119 and 1118
837. Canada also contends that the express provisions of Articles 1118 and 1119 are simply
duplicated by implication into Article 1120. Not only does that serve no practical, logical
or conceptual purpose, the proposition is directly contrary to the plain text of the
NAFTA and the deliberate choice of the NAFTA Parties to draft Articles 1118 through
1120 as distinct requirements, each providing separately for consultation (in Article
1118), notice of dispute (in Article 1119) and a cooling‐off period (in Article 1120).
950 Pope & Talbot ‐ Award "Super Fee", at para. 25 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐156) 951 Government of Canada's Objections to Jurisdiction, 3 December 2012, at para. 23. 952 Christoph Schreuer, "Consent to Arbitration" in P. Muchlinski, F. Ortino, C. Schreuer, eds., The Oxford Handbook
of International Investment Law, (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008), Ch. 21 ("Schreuer (2008)"), at p. 846 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐157)
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i. Article 1119 Notice Requirement
838. Notice to the respondent state is a pre‐requisite to initiating of a NAFTA claim. The
Investor satisfied this requirement, which Canada does not dispute. As required by
Article 1119, the Notice of Intent was issued on July 6, 2011.
839. The United States Statement of Administrative Action, which was made in connection
with the implementation of the NAFTA, and which sets out the U.S. understanding of
the NAFTA at the time of implementation, confirms Article 1119 to be the notice
provision:
Article 1118 encourages the settlement of claims through consultation or negotiation. Articles 1119 and 1120 set forth the process leading up to the submission of a dispute to an arbitral panel.
Article 1119 provides that an investor must provide notice of its intention to submit a claim to arbitration at least 90 days before doing so, and specifies the Content of such notice. Article 1120 provides that once 180 days have elapsed from the events giving rise to a claim, the investor may submit the claim for arbitration… 953
840. In purporting to have not received requisite notice, Canada conflates the Article 1119
notice requirement with the cooling‐off period requirement of Article 1120. The same
conflation was resoundingly rejected by the Ethyl Tribunal.954
841. NAFTA Article 1120 does not impose an additional notice requirement. It is only Article
1119 that requires "written notice of [an Investor's] intention to submit a claim to
arbitration".
842. In Article 1119, the NAFTA Parties agreed to a 90 day notice period under Article 1119.
Nothing more. The Investor's Notice of Arbitration was filed on October 4, 2011, 90 days
after it issued its Notice of Intent on July 6, 2011.
ii. Article 1118 Consultation Issue
843. Immediately following the Notice of Intent, the Investor, on July 6, 2011, invited Canada
to engage in consultations.955
844. Although NAFTA Article 1118 does not specify a time frame for consultation, Canada
acknowledges that consultation generally occurs after notice.956
953 The North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, Statement of Administrative Action ("NAFTA ‐
Statement of Adminsitrative Action"), at p. 146 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐158) 954 Ethyl Corp ‐ Jurisdicition Award, at paras. 83‐85 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐013) 955 Letter from Appleton & Associates to Myles J. Kirvan, Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General
of Canada, July 6, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0100); L Letter from Appleton & Associates to Preminer Dalton McGuinty, July 6, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0099)
956 It is possible, of course, for consultation and negotiations to happen before a NOI as part of an effort by the Investor to resolve the issues underlying the claim.
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845. The logical practicality is affirmed by the NAFTA Free Trade Commission which stated:
Efforts to settle NAFTA investment claims through consultation or negotiation have generally taken place only after the delivery of the notice of intent. The notice of intent naturally serves as the basis for consultation or negotiations between the disputing investor and the competent authorities of a Party.957
846. While Canada has provided a listing of its correspondence with respect to consultations
in paragraphs 16 and 37 of its Submission, it omitted to disclose to the Tribunal that it
was the Investor who initiated these privileged discussions. Canada also omitted to
provide to the Tribunal a listing of the responding letters from the Investor to Canada's
letters.958 Instead, Canada chose to deliberately mischaracterize the matter. The Investor
and Canada exchanged a series of privileged correspondence under the terms of NAFTA
Article 1118, but no consultations resulted as a result of a disagreement between the
Investor and Canada over the lack of confirmation that Canada's delegation would
include the persons actually responsible for the measures in dispute by the Government
of Ontario. As the Investor repeatedly stated in the correspondence, it wanted the
consultations between the parties to be meaningful.
847. The NAFTA parties were careful to ensure that each of them confirmed their full respect
for their constitutions. NAFTA Article 601 states:
Article 601: Principles
1. The Parties confirm their full respect for their Constitutions.
848. The constitutional division of powers in Canada is ordered in a way that any meaningful
discussion about the settlement of the underlying dispute would require the active
involvement of responsible officials of the Government of Ontario. The Canadian
Federal Government was not constitutionally competent to offer the kind of
undertakings that might lead to the satisfaction of the Investor's concerns.
849. Indeed, Canada's own statements about document production acknowledge that
Ontario has not provided Canada with timely production of documents about this
dispute, even two years after the Notice of Intent in this matter was filed. Clearly, it
would not be possible to have a meaningful exchange of information in any NAFTA
Article 1118 consultation without a meaningful presence from the Government of
Ontario
957 Re Notices of Intent to Submit a Claim to Arbitration (2003) (NAFTA Free Trade Commission) ("NOI to Submit a
Claim"), at para. 16 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐159) 958 Letter from Barry Appleton to John O'Neil, July 13, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0103); Letter from
Barry Appleton to John O'Neil, July 14, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0104); Letter from Barry Appleton to Sylvie Tabet, September 23, 2011; and Letter from Barry Appleton to John O'Neil, December 28, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0114)
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850. In these circumstances, and failing any indication that the federal Government was
prepared to offer monetary compensation, it was reasonable to adjudge that any
consultation without the meaningful engagement of the Government of Ontario would
be fruitless.
iii. Article 1120 waiting period
851. NAFTA Article 1120 imposes no additional notice or consultation requirement. It
requires the investor to wait six months after the events which gave rise to a claim
before filing a notice of arbitration. As affirmed by the Feldman Tribunal, it is simply a
"cooling off" period:
Article 1120 (1) provides for a cooling‐off period of six months between the events giving rise to a claim and the submission of the claim to arbitration.959
852. In its request for bifurcation in the Grand River case, the United States confirmed that it
considered Article 1120 to be a "cooling‐off" period, that is distinct from the notice
period:
Article 1119 provides that a claimant must deliver a notice of intent identifying the challenged measures at least 90 days prior to submitting its claims to arbitration… Claimants also failed to observe the "cooling‐off" period prescribed by Article 1120. Article 1120 requires that six months must elapse after the events giving rise to a claim before the claim may be submitted to arbitration. …
The Tribunal should apply the notice and six‐month waiting period requirements in accordance with their plain meaning. 960
853. There is no issue that there are events that give rise to a claim that occurred more than
six months prior to the filing of the Notice of Arbitration on October 4, 2011.
854. The only issue is whether the Tribunal can also consider acts and omissions that extend
beyond that date. The events have been clearly set out in this Memorial and they
demonstrate events that occurred more than six months before the arbitration that give
rise to a claim.
855. In the Ethyl case, the Tribunal held that events giving rise to a claim could also include
the knowledge of future events, such as pending legislation.961 In this case, the Investor
had concerns that the improper application of the ranking criteria to its projects would
lead to a further loss. Similarly, the Investor had substantial concerns that the special
959 Marvin Roy Feldman Karpa v. United Mexican States, ICSID Case No. ARB(AF)/99/1, Interim Decision on
Preliminary Jurisdictional Issues (December 6, 2000) ("Marvin Roy ‐ Interim Decision on Jurisdiction"), at para. 46 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐160)
960 Grand River Enterprises Six Nations, Ltd., et al. v. United States of America, Request for Bifurcation of Respondent, 29 August 2005 ("Grand River ‐ Request for Bifurcation"), at pp 7‐8 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐161)
961 Ethyl Corp ‐ Jurisdicition Award, paras. 87‐88 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐013)
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treatment granted to the Korean Consortium would result in better treatment to the
Korean Consortium and its partners who were competing with the Investor for Power
Purchase Agreements.
C. US‐Ecuador BIT notice provision is not comparable to Article 1120
856. Canada refers to two cases under the US‐Ecuador BIT,962 where tribunals declined
jurisdiction over aspects of a claim that had taken place within six months of the
submission of the claim to arbitration: Burlington and Murphy.963 Those decisions,
however, have no application to this arbitration, as the notice provisions of the US‐
Ecuador BIT and the NAFTA are completely different.
857. Professor Kenneth Vandevelde, in his treatise "U.S. International Investment
Agreements", explains that the US‐Ecuador BIT adopted the 1992 version of the
standard US Model BIT as the basis for the US‐Ecuador BIT.964 Unlike the NAFTA, the
only notice provision in the US‐Ecuador BIT is contained in Article VI(3)(a), which states:
3.(a) Provided that...six months have elapsed from the date on which the dispute arose, the national or company concerned may choose to consent in writing to the submission of the dispute for settlement by binding arbitration [to the ICSID]."965
858. The Burlington Tribunal explained that this provision serves both a notice and a
consultation purpose:
…by imposing upon investors an obligation to voice their disagreement at least six months prior to the submission of an investment dispute to arbitration, […] effectively accords host States the right to be informed about the dispute at least six months before it is submitted to arbitration. The purpose of this right is to grant the host State an opportunity to redress the problem before the investor submits the dispute to arbitration. In this case, Claimant has deprived the host State of that opportunity. That suffices to defeat jurisdiction.966
962 Government of Canada Objections to Jurisdiction, December 3, 2012, at paras. 26‐27. 963 Burlington Resources Inc. v. Republic of Ecuador, ICSID Case No. ARB/08/5, Decision on Jurisdiction (June 2,
2010) ("Burlington ‐ Jurisdiction"), at para. 315 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐162); Murphy Exploration and Production Company International v. Republic of Ecuador, ICSID Case No. ARB/08/4, Award on Jurisdiction (December 15, 2010) ("Murphy ‐ Jurisdiction"), at paras. 149, 154, 155 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐163)
964 Kenneth Vandevelde, U.S. International Investment Agreements, (New York: Oxford University Press, 2009), extracts ("Vandevelde (2009)") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐118) Professor Vandevelde notes that there are some minor modifications in this Treaty from the 1992 model treaty was that exceptions to MFN and national treatment were in a protocol. Otherwise, this BIT followed the 1992 model BIT.
965 The Treaty Between the United States of America and the Republic of Ecuador Concerning The Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investment, With Protocol and a Related Exchange of Letters, Signed at Washington on August 27,1993 ("US‐Ecuador Treaty") at Article VI(3)(a) (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐165)
966 Burlington Resources Inc. v. Republic of Ecuador, ICSID Case No. ARB/08/5, Decision on Jurisdiction (June 2, 2010) ("Burlington ‐ Jurisdiction"), at para. 315 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐162)
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859. The Burlington Tribunal reasoned that a dispute arises only when the host state is
informed of the existence of the dispute and that notice periods are "designed precisely
to provide the State with an opportunity to redress the dispute before the investor
decides to submit the dispute to arbitration." 967 Similarly, the Murphy Tribunal focused
on the importance of consultation and negotiations that could only occur after notice
has been given.968
860. The Burlington case concerned an entirely different issue than whether acts and
omissions that occurred within six months of the Notice of Arbitration are within the
jurisdiction of the tribunal. The issue in Burlington was whether the language of various
communications from the investor to the host state authorities was sufficient to give
those authorities any notice of the existence of a dispute at least six months in advance
of the filing of a claim. In Burlington, the holding on jurisdiction was premised on the
Tribunal's finding that none of the earlier communications from the Claimant to the
state gave the host state notice that a dispute existed regarding ANY act or omission
violating ANY provision of the treaty.969
861. The Murphy v. Ecuador award also does not assist Canada. The basis of the finding
concerning jurisdiction in relation to the cooling‐off period was that the Claimant had
not asserted any treaty breach in any communication to the respondent state six
months prior to bringing the claim970. Nowhere in Murphy did the Tribunal suggest that
the meaning of a six month cooling off period is that there is no jurisdiction to consider
additional acts and omissions that occurred within that period, even where the Claimant
has given clear notice of other acts and/or omissions giving rise to a claim more than six
months before the filing. This is simply not addressed by the Murphy Tribunal.
862. As Professor Vandevelde notes, the provision in the NAFTA Investment Chapter is
completely different from the Model US BIT. The NAFTA "included an investment
chapter that resembled, but in many respects differed from, the BITs".971 Instead of one
notice provision, into which time for consulation needed to be implied, the NAFTA
provides for three separate and distinct requirements in Articles 1118, 1119 and 1120.
863. The essential purpose of Article VI (3)(a) in the US‐Ecuador BIT is contained in Article
1119 of the NAFTA, which provides for the state to be informed of a dispute, so it can
then collect information and engage in consultations as provided for in Article 1118.
967 Burlington ‐ Jurisdiction, at paras. 316, 312 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐162) 968 Murphy Exploration and Production Company International v. Republic of Ecuador, ICSID Case No. ARB/08/4,
Award on Jurisdiction (December 15, 2010) ("Murphy ‐ Jurisdiction"), at paras. 149, 154, 155 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐163)
969 Burlington – Jurisdiction, at para. 335 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐162) 970 Murphy – Jurisdiction, at paras. 103 ‐ 104 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐163) 971 Vandevelde (2009), at p. 95 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐118)
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D. The NAFTA Parties rejected the approach of the US‐Ecuador BIT
864. Unlike the US‐Ecuador BIT, the NAFTA was carefully designed to have separate
provisions regarding consultation, notice periods, and waiting periods. The Tribunal
needs to give effect to the express choice made by the NAFTA Parties explicitly in the
treaty text.
865. The earliest drafts of the NAFTA contained a dispute settlement provision that was
based on the 1992 US model BIT like that in Article VI(3)(a) of the US‐Ecuador BIT.972 For
example, the September 4, 1992 negotiation text of the NAFTA shows:
DRAFT Article 1120: Arbitration Fora
1. Provided that six months have elapsed since the date on which the investment dispute arose, the investor may submit the dispute to arbitration under… 973
866. The early NAFTA draft is virtually identical to Article VI (3)(a) of the US‐Ecuador BIT:
US‐Ecuador BIT: Provided that...six months have elapsed from the date on which the dispute
arose,974
1992 US Model BIT: Provided that...six months have elapsed from the date on which the dispute
arose,975
Early NAFTA Draft: Provided that six months have elapsed since the date on which the
investment dispute arose,976
867. The final wording of NAFTA Article 1120, however, is very different. The NAFTA Parties
expressly rejected the single provision approach in favor of the three separate
provisions contained in Articles 1118, 1119 and 1120.977 They chose to replace the term
"since the date when the dispute arose" with the term "since the events giving rise to a
claim", and to address the specific notice requirement in Article 1119 and the
consultation requirement in Article 1118.
868. The negotiation history of the NAFTA is also completely consistent with the plain
meaning of the text of Article 1120. Put simply, NAFTA Article 1120 cannot be
972 NAFTA, Draft Text of May 22, 1992, in Barry Appleton, ed., NAFTA: Legal Text and Interpretive Materials, Vol. 3
(Toronto: Thomson West, 2007) ("Appleton I (2007)") Sec. 20:10 at 261 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐164)
973 NAFTA, Draft Text of September 4, 1992, 1:30pm, in Barry Appleton, ed., NAFTA: Legal Text and Interpretive Materials, Vol. 3 (Toronto: Thomson West, 2007) ("Appleton II (2007)") Sec. 20:26 at 666 [emphasis added] (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐188)
974 US‐Ecuador Treaty, at para. 3 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐165) 975 Vandevelde (2009), at p. 95 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐118) 976 Appleton I (2007), at Sec. 20:26 at 666 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐164) 977 NAFTA, Draft Text of September 4, 1992, 6:00pm, in Barry Appleton, ed., NAFTA: Legal Text and Interpretive
Materials, Vol. 3 (Toronto: Thomson West, 2007) ("Appleton III (2007)") Sec. 20:27 at 687 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐166)
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interpreted in a way that would ignore its plain words terms and replace them with a
meaning that the NAFTA Parties explicitly rejected.
869. There is simply no question of Article 1120 restricting Canada's consent to arbitration in
the present case. Interpretation of other treaties' notice provisions cannot have the
effect of changing the plain meaning of Article 1120 from being a cooling‐off period and
turning it into a notice and consultation period.
E. The timing requirements of Articles 1119 and 1120
870. NAFTA Articles 1119 and 1120 are related to, but independent of each other. For
example, the six month cooling‐off period under Article 1120 can run prior to or
concurrently with the 90 day notice period under Article 1119.
871. Yet, Canada unabashedly asks this Tribunal to rewrite NAFTA in order to "send the
message" that an Investor cannot submit a Notice of Arbitration and Notice of Intent at
the same time.978 But there is no message to send. The NAFTA already does this. Article
1119 requires an Investor to wait 90 days between the Notice of Intent and the Notice
of Arbitration. It is not possible under the NAFTA for a State to have less than 90 days to
inform itself of the dispute and to attempt negotiation and consultation. The NAFTA
Article 1119 and 1120 requirements are clear; the only "message" the Tribunal should
send is a message to Canada directing it to stop its systemic practice of attempting to
delay access to justice through spurious jurisdictional delays.979
872. The only preliminary factual question, therefore, is whether "the events giving rise to a
claim" in this arbitration arose at least "six months" prior to the filing of the Notice of
Arbitration.
873. In this arbitration, the Notice of Arbitration was filed on October 4, 2011. The events
giving rise to a claim by the Investor began on November 17, 2009, when the Investor
incorporated its first two wind projects, and thereby became subject to the domestic
content requirements of the FIT Program.980
978Government of Canada Objections to Jurisdiction, 3 December 2012, at para. 38. 979 The recent bifurcation decision of the NAFTA Tribunal in Apotex Holdings Inc. and Apotex Inc. v. United States of
America, 25 January 2013 rejected a request to bifurcate jurisdictional arguments where, as in the present hearing, that bifurcation would still require a hearing on the merits of some of the Investor's claims. Apotex Holdings Inc. and Apotex Inc. v. United States of America, Procedural Order Deciding Bufurcation and Non‐Bifurcation, 25 January 2013 ("Apotex ‐ Procedural Order on Bifurcation") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐167)
980 Certificate of Incorporation for Arran Wind Project ULC (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0049); Certificate of Incorporation for TTD Wind Project ULC under the Alberta Business Corporations Act, November 17, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0087) The remaining two wind farms were incorporated on April 6, 2010. Certificate of Incorporation for for the Summerhill Project ULC, under the Alberta Business Corporations Act,
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874. Unlike some investment treaties, like the US‐Ecuador BIT for example, the requirement
to provide "notice of a dispute" under the NAFTA is expressly contained in NAFTA Article
1119. The notice requirement of Article 1119 is an entirely separate provision from the
requirement to provide a Notice of Arbitration under NAFTA Article 1120. Similarly, the
requirement to attempt resolution of a dispute through negotiation or consultation is
also expressly contained in a separate provision in NAFTA Article 1118.
875. The interpretation urged by Canada of the cooling‐off period is entirely contrary to the
effective settlement of disputes. Canada is essentially saying that even if they are an
integral part of the factual matrix and are governed by the same legal arguments as
those that have arisen six months prior to commencing arbitration, the later acts and
omissions could only be addressed by filing a new claim and establishing a different
tribunal.
876. Canada's suggestion is costly, wasteful, and would lead to a situation where two
different tribunals are considering under the same applicable law acts and omissions of
different times that nevertheless constitute elements of the same composite or
continuing breaches. Such an approach could easily lead to incoherence and the
possibility of conflicting conclusions concerning what is essentially the same matter.
877. Canada has not even provided proof of any element of unfair surprise, or bad faith on
the part of the Investor. It was entirely predictable that that the Investor would include
in its claims acts that almost inevitably flowed from the early conduct, or were further
iterations within a composite or continuing breach. Canada has not shown why, or how,
in any way the lack of a six month cooling‐off period with respect to the particular acts
and omissions in question compromised the possibility of settlement in this matter, or
burdened Canada with any disadvantage in this proceeding.
878. Indeed, the dispute procedures of the WTO require a prior consultation period before a
Member has an entitlement to a dispute panel. The WTO Appellate Body has repeatedly
been faced with arguments that acts and omissions cannot be considered if they did not
occur before the beginning of the required consultation period, and has consistently
rejected those arguments.981
879. In the actual circumstances of this arbitration, there can be no doubt that the Investor
has completely satisfied each of the prerequisites of NAFTA Articles 1118, 1119 and
1120:
April 6, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0041); Certificate of Incorporation for North Bruce Project, ULC, April 6, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0050)
981 Brazil‐Aircraft paras. 162‐163 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐200); Mexico‐Anti‐Dumping measures, at para. 165 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐201)
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a) In respect of NAFTA Article 1118 consultations, the Investor first requested
consultations with Canada in a letter to the Deputy Attorney General of Canada, on
July 6, 2011,982 and with Ontario in a letter to Premier McGuinty.983
b) In respect of NAFTA Article 1119, the Investor issued its Notice of Intent on July 6,
2011, 90 days before the Notice of Arbitration was filed on October 4, 2011.
c) In respect of NAFTA Article 1120, the events giving rise to a claim first arose on
November 17, 2009, almost 2 years before the Notice of Arbitration was filed on
October 4, 2011.
880. Each of the specific events giving rise to the Investor's claims in this arbitration, which
include composite breaches of the NAFTA are presented as follows.
881. The International Law Commission's Articles on State Responsibility, consider the date
which gives rise to a composite breach as being the earliest date in the series of
982 Letter from Appleton & Associates to Myles J. Kirvan, Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General
of Canada, July 6, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0100) 983 Letter from Appleton & Associates to Preminer Dalton McGuinty, July 6, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at
C‐0099)
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events.984 In this arbitration, the date on which the composite breach commences,
January 17, 2011, is also clearly more than six months before the filing of the Notice of
Arbitration.
882. Canada has identified two dates on which it engaged in measures which occurred within
six months of the filing of the Notice of Arbitration.985 Each of these dates is an artificial
date in related to the events giving rise to the claim. The actions which occurred on
these two dates are part of a composite act which commenced long before. The two
actions – being the last minute modification of the FIT Program Rules providing a five
day window for filing application changes in June 2011, and the improper award of
contracts on July 4, 2011 – were the results of a larger systemic NAFTA measure which
commenced in both cases more than six months before the filing of the Notice of
Arbitration. Based on the applicable international law rules codified in the ILC Articles on
State Responsibility, the acts giving rise to the claim with respect to both of these
particular events started on dates which commenced more than six months before the
submission of the Notice of Arbitration.
883. In essence, Canada's entire contention is to have this Tribunal ignore the longstanding
international law rules that the timing of composite acts begin at the start of the series
of actions.
884. The determination of when a composite act arises is well settled. Professor Crawford,
Special Rapporteur on State Responsibility to the International Law Commissions,
writes:
Paragraph 2 of article 15 deals with the extension in time of a composite act. Once a sufficient number of actions or omissions have occurred, producing the result of the composite act as such, the breach is dated to the first of the acts in the series.986 [emphasis added]
885. Instead, Canada contends that the six month period in Article 1120 runs from the last
event of the composite act.987 Canada has submitted no authority for such a proposition.
886. The Commentary to the ILC Articles of State Responsibility addresses the nature of
composite breaches. Paragraph 2 of the Commentary on Article 15 confirms that
"systemic acts of discrimination prohibited by a trade agreement" constitute a
composite breach.988 Within the claim before this Tribunal, the following systemic
breaches form part of a composite breach:
984 ILC Articles, Article 15(2) (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐009) provides that the events giving rise
to a claim over a composite breach begin at the first act in the series 985 Government of Canada's Objections to Jurisdiction, December 3, 2012, at paras. 11‐12. 986 Crawford (2002), at p. 143 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐006) 987 Government of Canada Objections to Jurisdiction, 3 December 2012, at paras. 15, 38. 988 Crawford (2002), at p. 141 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐006)
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a) The systemic requirement for local content in the FIT program;
b) The systemic failure to follow the FIT Program Rules with respect to the ranking and
evaluation of applications;
c) The special privileges and inducements provided to the Korean Consortium with
respect to Power Purchase Agreements, and its priority access to power
transmission;
d) Systemic discrimination applied to Mesa and its investments as opposed to the
better treatment provided to applicants from others, such as Boulevard Associates,
which was owned by NextEra.
Each of these breaches at issue in this arbitration is a part of composite breaches.
887. Article 1120 requires that the events giving rise to the arbitration claim arise more than
six months before the filing of the Notice of Arbitration. Two particular events took
place within this six month period ‐ the amendment of the designation of the
interconnection point on June 3, 2011, and the award of FIT Contracts on July 4, 2011.
888. Both of these events were part of composite measures arising more than six months
before the submission of the claim to arbitration.
a) The interconnection point amendment was merely the culmination of discriminatory
and unfair preferences given to competitors who had private and secret meetings
with the governmental authority commencing in January 2011.
b) The award of contracts was the culmination of unfair and discriminatory preferences
given to competitors who had private and secret meetings with governmental
authorities commencing in January 2011, as well as from the discriminatory
administration and operation of the local content rules in the Fit Program which
date back to the fall of 2009.
889. International law recognizes that the events giving rise to the arbitration start at the
beginning of the series of events. Thus, the fact that these two events manifested less
than six months before the filing of the Notice of Arbitration is entirely consistent with
the requirement of NAFTA Article 1120, as they were part of a composite breach.
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II. THE FACTUAL CONTEXT
890. A number of measures attributed to Canada constitute specific breaches of the NAFTA.
These measures are:
891. The measures taken by Canada are completely interrelated. The result of the measures
was the denial of Power Purchase Agreements that the Investor was otherwise entitled
to receive on July 4, 2011.
892. In December 2010, the Ontario Power Authority announced that 1200 MW of
transmission capacity would be available to projects in the Bruce Region.989 If the
rankings had been conducted correctly in 2010, if competitors had not been given
advance information about FIT Program Rule changes starting in January 2011, and if
transmission capacity had not been reserved for the Korean Consortium pursuant to the
Green Energy Investment Agreement, Mesa would have been entitled to receive FIT
contracts on July 4, 2011.
A. Domestic Content Requirements of the FIT Program
893. On September 24, 2009, Ontario announced the FIT Program.990 Canada explained the
purpose of the Program in its submissions to the WTO on challenges from Japan and the
EU:
Like FIT programs in other parts of the world, the Ontario FIT Program was created to induce new renewable generation. As recognized by Japan, the Ontario 'FIT Program … became necessary to encourage the entry into the market of renewable energy generators, most of which would not
have entered the market in the absence of the FIT Program.991
989 Ontario Power Authority, Priority ranking for First Round FIT Contracts, December 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule
of Exhibits at C‐0073) 990 Letter from George Smitherman (Minister of Energy and Infrastructure) to Colin Andersen (OPA), September 24,
2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0264) 991 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 9.18 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001);
Canada ‐ Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy Generation Sector, at para. 49 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐004)
Measure FIT Program applicable to Investment
Granting of Privileges to
Korean Consortium
Private Meeting with Competitors to Facilitate Connection Point Changes
Date November 25,
2009 January 21, 2010 January 2011
Days prior to NOA
686 621 259
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894. Whether a well‐sited investment would be fruitful was entirely dependent on choosing
a connection point where a project had a high probability of being granted a Power
Purchase Agreement. Once a PPA was granted, the Investor would benefit from a
guaranteed rate of return from the purchase of all the electricity it could generate under
the PPA.
895. The WTO Panel Report explained the system of guaranteed payments:
As we have explained elsewhere in these Reports, the FIT Programme guarantees a fixed price for every kWh of electricity delivered into the Ontario electricity system over a period of 20 years by qualifying generators of electricity using solar PV and windpower technology. The prices paid under the FIT Programme were established by the OPA with a view to ensuring that participants are able to cover "typical" development costs and obtain a reasonable rate of return. Thus, generators participating in the FIT Programme will be remunerated for each kWh of electricity delivered into Ontario's electricity system at a price calculated to ensure economically viable operations for "typical" facilities for a 20‐year period.992
The WTO Panel determined that "at least some Ontario‐sourced (and therefore
Canadian‐Sourced) goods must be used to satisfy" the "Minimum Required Domestic
Content Level" requirement to obtain a PPA.993
896. There were only a limited number of Ontario manufacturers of the components
required to meet these domestic content requirements.994 Investors were therefore de
facto required to purchase option contracts with these domestic producers, to
guarantee that when offered a PPA they could meet its terms.995 The Investor entered
into agreements with GE Energy LLC to secure domestic content manufacturing
capacity.996 Canada's wrongful actions forced the Investor to default on these
agreements at a cost of approximately USD$150 million.
897. The FIT Program and the obtaining of PPAs with Ontario was required to be operated in
accordance with the NAFTA, particularly Articles 1102 through 1106.
898. The Investor is entitled to present a case on whether the domestic content
requirements, which were a "necessary condition and prerequisite for the electricity
generators to participate in the FIT Programme"997 were in violation of the prohibition of
992 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.165 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001) 993 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.163 [emphasis added] (Investor's Schedule of Legal
Authorities at CL‐001) 994 Indeed, this is one of the reasons Ontario signed the Korean Consortium agreement, to boost local
manufacturing in the renewable energy sector. 995 An option contract gives priority manufacturing capacity to a purchaser over other customers. Project rankings
were partially based on whether an applicant had an option contract that would satisfy local content requirements.
996 Letter from Carson Granger (General Electric) to Monty Humble (Mesa), November 24, 2009 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0029)
997 Canada ‐ Renewable Energy ‐ Panel Report, at para. 7.165 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐001)
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domestic content requirements under Article 1106(1)(b) of the NAFTA. The events
surrounding this domestic content requirement included:
a) The creation of the requirement (September 24, 2009);
b) The incorporation of the Investor's initial projects which first subjected Mesa to the
requirements (November 17, 2009);
c) The negotiation of the agreement with GE Energy to obtain local content production
capacity in November 2009; and
d) The Investor being required to cancel its option contract at a cost of approximately
USD$150 million by December 21, 2012.998
899. The Investor was subjected to the domestic content purchasing requirement 686 days
prior to the Notice of Arbitration. This is more than the 180 day minimum required by
the NAFTA.
900. A similar result occurs with continuous breach. For example, the Mobil Oil v Canada
NAFTA Award demonstrates that a continuous act, in that case federal guidelines
inconsistent with the NAFTA which were still in effect at the time of the hearing, was not
a jurisdictional bar to the Tribunal's determination of the issues in dispute.999
B. Ontario's Mismanagement of FIT Program Rankings
901. The FIT Program was designed to grant investors a competitive opportunity based upon
their rank in accordance with a point system. Under the FIT Program Rules, the Investor
was entitled to receive out of a possible 725 points available.1000 When it received
its ranking, it was ranked far below its calculated position. On May 20, 2011, the
Investor wrote to the OPA to verify that the OPA had correctly calculated their priority
rank.1001 The OPA refused to provide the Investor with supporting calculations, claiming
they were confidential.1002
998 This recent date demonstrates the fallacy of Canada's argument that the Investor must wait 180 days from
every claim. Events may arise during the arbitration which involve the matters in dispute and are part of existing claims.
999 Mobil Investments Inc. v. Government of Canada, ICSID Case No ARB(AF)/07/4, Decision on Liability and on Principles of Quantum (May 22, 2012) ("Mobil ‐ Decision on Liability") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐168)
1000 Letter from Mark Ward (Mesa), Chuck Edey (Leader Resources) and Michael Bernstein (Capstone Infrastructure) to Shawn Cronkwright (OPA), May 20, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0098)
1001 Letter from Mark Ward (Mesa), Chuck Edey (Leader Resources) and Michael Bernstein (Capstone Infrastructure) to Shawn Cronkwright (OPA), May 20, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0098)
1002 Letter from Shawn Cronkwright (OPA) to Mark Ward (Mesa Group), Charles Edey (Leader Resources Services Corp.) and Michael Bernstein (Capstone Infrastructure Corp.), June 17, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0195)
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902. Under the FIT Program Rules, the Investor had amongst the highest number of points of
all project proponents. Despite this, it was ranked 8th and 9th in the Bruce Region, below
projects that had lower rankings:
903. The ranking of the Investor's projects according to alternative criteria on December 21,
2010, deprived it of a PPA. This occurred 287 days prior to the Notice of Arbitration.
C. The Korean Consortium
904. The Korean Consortium, comprised of Samsung C & T Corporation and Korea Electric
Power Corporation, was granted preferential access to generating contracts in exchange
for establishing green energy manufacturing facilities in Ontario.
905. In addition to its wrongful ranking in the OPA ranking system, the Investor now knows
that the system was bypassed by the Korean Consortium and its partners. The Korean
Consortium was granted preferential access to connection points with guaranteed
access to transmission capacity. This preferential treatment permitted the Korean
Consortium to identify lower ranked applicants for PPAs, purchase those projects and
secure a PPA for those projects by integrating their operation into the Korean
Consortium. This scheme granted other investors and their Canadian subsidiaries
preferential treatment to the Investor.
906. The events giving rise to this scheme were ongoing:
a) Ontario started negotiations with the Korean Consortium in the fall of 2008.1003
b) The Agreement consummating the special privileges was signed on January 21,
2010.1004
1003 Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Official Report of Debates (Hansard), May 3 2012, at p. 2052 (Investor's
Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0018) 1004 Green Energy Investment Agreement, January 21, 2010 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0322)
Bruce Region Priority Ranking ‐ December 21, 2010
Rank Applicant Name Capacity (MW)
1 Boulevard Associates Canada, Inc. 102 2 Boulevard Associates Canada, Inc. 23 3 Grand Bend Wind, L.P. 100 4 Grand Valley Wind Farms Inc. 40 5 St. Columban Energy L.P. 15 6 Skyway 127 Wind Energy Inc. 100 7 St. Columban Energy L.P. 18 8 TTD Wind Project ULC 150 9 Arran Wind Project ULC 115
Total 663
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c) Projects owned by Pattern Inc, a competitor of the Investor and a partner of
Samsung, were transferred from the FIT Program to obtain the better terms
available through the Korean Consortium's Agreement.1005
d) Projects owned by other investors were transferred from lower‐ranked positions
through the Korean Consortium Agreement to a privileged status such that they
received PPAs.1006
907. The events giving rise to this claim1007 occurred 621 days prior to the Notice of
Arbitration.
D. Meeting with competitors and advanced notice of Connection Point changes
908. In mid‐January 2011, shortly after the OPA announced that 1200MW of contracts would
be offered in the Bruce Region, a lobby organization, the Canadian District Energy
Association, contacted the OPA for a meeting on behalf of a competitor, NextEra Energy
Resources, to discuss the migration of its projects in the West of London Region to the
Bruce Region.1008 The OPA met with NextEra, and the meeting precipitated the Rules
change that was made some six months later on June 3, 2011.
We have limitations on the extent we can discuss information that is relevant and material to the upcoming ECT process. We will try to be helpful, but as I said to all who wish to discuss this kind of matter with us, we can't recommend, suggest or consult on your specific needs. We can clarify rules and provide better understanding as they related to disclosed information.1009
909. The OPA met with NextEra representatives to discuss "data confirmation as to what
[NextEra] modeled in [their] load flows."1010 Following the meeting an internal OPA
communication recommended that "going forward, [the OPA] should reflect this
1005 Email from Frank Davis (Pattern Energy) to Susan Kennedy (OPA), August 2, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0280) 1006 See, for example, Ontario Power Authority, Priority ranking for First Round FIT Contracts, December 21, 2010
(Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0073) Armow Wind Project was ranked 24th in Bruce area and 180th provincially. It then received a PPA through the Green Energy Investment Agreement. Ontario Power Authority, News Release, "Power purchase agreements signed with Korean Consortium", August 3, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0059)
1007 Canada's jurisdiction submission inexplicably state that the better treatment afforded the Korean Consortium is relevant to the merits of the Investor's case but did not give rise to a claim (para. 3 n.3). To the contrary, better treatment afforded to nationals of another party gives rise to a claim for breach of Article 1103 of the NAFTA.
1008 E‐mail from Mary Ellen Richardson (Canadian District Energy Association) to Bob Chow (OPA), January 17, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0139)
1009 Email from Bob Chow (OPA) to Bobby Adjemian (NextEra Energy), January 18, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0234)
1010 Email from Bobby Adjemian (NextEra Energy) to Bob Chow (OPA), January 18, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0234)
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potential connection point in [their] studies."1011 In effect, despite stated reservations
that the OPA would not "consult" on "specific needs", the OPA met with a competitor
and then made changes to the FIT Program that were directly beneficial to that
competitor.
910. In February 2011, Ontario continued to grant NextEra extraordinary assistance not
available to other investors. Representatives of NextEra met with the Ministry of Energy
on February 25, 2011, and obtained inside information about how to change its projects
connection points, including specific timing of a window to make those changes.1012
911. In early April 2011, the IESO scheduled a meeting with NextEra and its representatives in
regard to connecting to 500kv transmission lines, the lines to which NextEra changed
during the connection point change window.
912. As a result of these interactions with multiple government actors in the Ontario energy
regulation sector, NextEra was prepared for the connection point window change
opportunity, which was announced without prior notice on June 3, 2011, with a window
of only 5 days.
913. Canada has noted that other projects also changed connection points during the change
window.1013 Those changes, however, were minor. NextEra's change involved the
construction of a transmission line of hundreds of kilometers. The due diligence and
expense required for such a substantial change can only be explained by NextEra having
advance knowledge of the change window, and that its change would be approved.
914. Following this connection point change, PPAs were offered to proponents on July 4,
2011, including new entrants, in the Bruce Region. Had these new entrants not been
admitted, the Investor's projects in that Region would have been entitled to a PPA:
1011 Email from Tracy Garner (OPA) to Irwin Ng (OPA), January 25, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0296) 1012 Email from Bob Lopinski (Counsel Public Affairs) to Pearl Ing (MEI), February 25, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of
Exhibits at C‐0319) The Ministry of Energy also met with NextEra on May 11 and May 13, 2011. Email from Phil Dewan (Counsel Public Affairs) to Sue Lop (Ministry of Energy), May 12, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0090)
1013 Canada's Outline of Potential Issues, 31 July 2012, at para. 11.
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915. The manner with which the OPA conducted the connection point window change was
unreasonable, unforeseeable and unfair, and constituted a breach of Article 1105.
916. Furthermore, the decision to grant a competitor, NextEra Energy, preferential access to
the Bruce Region by allowing construction of a massive transmission line, also
constitutes unfair and unreasonable treatment that deprived the Investor of a PPA it
was otherwise entitled to.
917. The events giving rise to this claim occurred 259 days prior to the Notice of Arbitration,
and the events from January through July 2011 constitute a composite breach of the
NAFTA.
918. The unfair and arbitrary 2010 project rankings made under the FIT Program resulted in
Mesa not receiving a PPA offer on July 4, 2011. Based on the FIT Rules, Mesa was
entitled to a higher ranking than other projects in the queue. Mesa was concerned that
the ranking process in Section 13 of the FIT Rules had not been followed, and sought
information about the apparent impropriety of the FIT ranking process in a May 20,
2011 letter.1014
919. The changes to the FIT Rules on June 3, 2011, of which competitors like NextEra had
advance notice, contributed to Mesa not being given a contract on July 4, 2011. Before
1014 Letter from Mark Ward (Mesa), Chuck Edey (Leader Resources) and Michael Bernstein (Capstone
Infrastructure) to Shawn Cronkwright (OPA), May 20, 2011 (Investor's Schedule of Exhibits at C‐0098)
Bruce Region Contract Offers – July 4, 2011
Rank Applicant Name Capacity (MW)
1 New NextEra Project: Boulevard Associates Canada, Inc. 60
2 New NextEra Project: Boulevard Associates Canada, Inc. 150
3 New NextEra Project: Bornish Wind, L.P. 73.5 4 Boulevard Associates Canada, Inc. 102 5 New Project: Suncor Energy Products Inc. 100 6 New NextEra Project: Summerhaven Wind, L.P. 60
7 Boulevard Associates Canada, Inc. 23 8 Grand Bend Wind, L.P. 100 9 Grand Valley Wind Farms Inc. 40 10 St. Columban Energy L.P. 15
723.5
Bruce Region Contract Offers – July 4, 2011
Rank Applicant Name Capacity (MW)
1 Suncor Energy Products Inc. 50 2 Skyway 127 Wind Energy inc. 100 3 TTD Wind Project ULC 150 4 Arran Wind Project ULC 115
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other competitors were allowed to change from the West of London Region, where only
350 MW of transmission was available, to the Bruce Region where at least 750 MW of
transmission capacity was available, Mesa was entitled to receive contracts for its TTD
and Arran projects because those projects were within the top 750 MW of transmission
capacity in that Region. NextEra was able to submit an application to change its
connection point because it obviously had advance notice of the Rules change. The
change in connection point that NextEra was permitted to complete would not have
been possible without advance notice to prepare the applications.
920. The signing of the Green Energy Investment Agreement in January 2010 resulted in Mesa
not obtaining a contract on July 4, 2011. The loss resulted from Canada's earlier NAFTA
breach in granting special privileges to the Korean Consortium in the GEIA. If the GEIA
parties had not been granted priority access to transmission capacity in the Bruce
Region, a greater amount of transmission capacity would have been available for FIT
applicants. In December 2010, the OPA indicated that 1200 MW of transmission
capacity would become available in the Bruce Transmission Region. However, the actual
transmission capacity that was made available to FIT applicants was only 750 MW,
because the Korean Consortium had been guaranteed access to 450 MW in the Bruce
Region, and was able to select its desired connection points. Despite the erroneous
rankings and the connection point amendment window, Mesa was within the top 1200
MW of transmission capacity. It was therefore entitled to receive a contract had it not
been for the special and guaranteed access to transmission that the GEIA parties
received.
921. By any measure, more than six months elapsed from each of the distinct events giving
rise to the Investor's claim.
III. CONCLUSION
922. The first of the events that gave rise to the Investor's claim arose well over six months
prior to the submission of the Notice of Arbitration. There can be no factual doubt that
the Investor has met the timing requirements and satisfied the purpose of each of
Articles 1118, 1119, and 1120.
923. Accordingly, the Investor respectfully requests that the Tribunal summarily dismiss
Canada's jurisdictional contentions.
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PART SIX: DAMAGES
I. THE OBLIGATION TO PAY DAMAGES
924. Under international law, the Investor is entitled to full compensation from Canada for all
harm caused to it and to its investments resulting from Canada's unlawful actions.
925. The purpose of damages is to restore the Investor to the position it would have been in
"but for" Canada's NAFTA breaches. The well‐established international law
compensation principle is that damages should wipe out the consequences of the
wrongful act and put the harmed party back to the status quo.1015
926. The NAFTA requires that the Investor be compensated for the breach of Canada's
obligations in NAFTA Chapter Eleven. The calculation of damages also needs to take into
account what would have been earned by the Investor and the Investments but for
Canada's unlawful actions.
927. The Independent Valuators' Report sets out an independent expert calculation of the
quantification of the damage sustained by the Investor and its Investments. As more
fully set out in the Independent Valuators' Report, the Investor has suffered substantial
loss in the value of its investments in Canada. The midpoint of total losses is
CAD$653,183 million.
II. LEGAL ISSUES
928. The international law principle of compensation requires Canada to compensate the
Investor for all loss caused to the Investor and its Investments resulting from Canada's
violation of its international law obligations.
A. The "But For" Test
929. Once a violation has been established, the remedial objective of an international
tribunal is to place the injured Investor and its Investments in the position they would
have been in but for the illegal conduct. In the words of the S.D. Myers NAFTA Tribunal,
"Compensation should undo the material harm inflicted by a breach of an international
obligation."1016
1015 Case Concerning the Factory at Chorzów, Merits Award, Permanent Court of International Justice, September
13, 1928, PCIJ, Series A, No. 17 ("Chorzów ‐ Merits Award"), at p. 47 [emphasis added] (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐169); Amco Asia Corp. v. Indonesia, Award, ICSID Reports Volume 1, 413 (November 20, 1984) ("Amco Asia ‐ Award "), at para. 267, adopted the reasoning of the Chorzow Factory Case, calling it the "basic precedent" in international law on compensation (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐170)
1016 S. D. Myers ‐ First Partial Award, at para. 315 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐033)
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930. The principle underlying the international law of compensation was enunciated by the
Permanent Court of International Justice in the Chorzow Factory case. The Court held:
The essential principle contained in the actual notion of an illegal act ... is that reparation must, as far as possible, wipe out all the consequences of the illegal act and reestablish the situation which would, in all probability, have existed if that act had not been committed. Restitution in kind, or, if this is not possible, payment of a sum corresponding to the value which a restitution in kind would bear; the award, if need be, of damages for loss sustained which would not be covered by restitution in kind or payment in place of it ‐ such are the principles which should serve to determine the amount of compensation for an act contrary to international law.1017
This compensation principle has been adopted and applied by numerous international
tribunal decisions.1018
B. Consequential damages
931. In the Amoco case, the Iran‐US Claims Tribunal considered the proper application of the
Chorzow Factory Case principles in the circumstance of an expropriation. Judge Charles
Brower took the opportunity in his Concurring Opinion to further clarify the application
of the Chorzow Factory Case in the context of a modern valuation and business analysis.
Judge Brower stated:
In my view Chorzow Factory presents a simple scheme: If an expropriation is lawful, the deprived property is to be awarded damages equal to ‘the value of the undertaking' which it has lost, including any potential future profits, as of the date of taking; in the case of an unlawful taking, however, either the injured party is to be actually restored to enjoyment of his property, or, should this be impossible or impractical, he is to be awarded damages equal to the greater of (i) the value of the undertaking at the date of loss (again including lost profits), judged on the basis of information available as of that date, and (ii) its value (likewise including lost profits) as shown by its probable performance subsequent to the date of loss and prior to the date of the award, based on actual post‐taking experience, plus (in either alternative) any consequential damages. Apart from the fact that this is what Chorzow Factory says, it is the only set of principles that will guarantee just compensation to all expropriated properties.
The substantive test of the judgment of Chorzow Factory is consonant with the conclusion that the ‘value of the undertaking' includes its potential for earning profits. The Court thus described such value as including ‘the cessation of the working and the loss of profit which have accrued' as encompassing all elements of damages except those that are ‘outside the undertaking itself;' and as embracing ‘the worth of the enterprise as a whole' or ‘the total value of the undertaking' including ‘profit.'1019
1017 Chorzów ‐ Merits Award, at p. 47 [emphasis added] (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐169) 1018 See, for example, S. D. Myers ‐ First Partial Award at paras. 311 and 317. At para. 311 the Tribunal stated, "The
principle of international law stated in the Chorzow Factory Case is still recognised as authoritative on the matter of general principle". Similarly, at para. 317 the Tribunal stated, "In summary, the Tribunal will assess the compensation payable to SDMI on the basis of the economic harm that SDMI legally can establish." (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐033) See also Amco Asia ‐ Award at para. 267, in which the Tribunal adopted the reasoning of the Chorzow Factory Case, calling it the "basic precedent" in international law on compensation (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐170)
1019 Amoco ‐ Award, at pp. 300‐302, at paras. 17‐19 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐171)
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932. Similarly, in Sapphire International Petroleum Arbitration, the Tribunal held that:
This compensation includes the loss suffered (damnum emergens), for example the expenses incurred in performing the contract, and the profit lost (lucrum cessans), for example the net profit which the contract would have obtained. The award of compensation for the lost profit or the loss of a possible benefit has been frequently allowed by international arbitral tribunals.1020
C. Lost Profits
933. Damages for lost profits includes loss that is a foreseeable consequence of the breach,
where the lost profits can be calculated with reasonable certainty.1021 An array of
international law awards have awarded compensation not only for actual losses
suffered, but also for consequential damages such as the loss of future business
profits.1022 Compensation for lost profits is a common element of international
compensation awards.1023
1020 Sapphire International Petroleums Ltd. v. National Iranian Oil Company, Arbitral Award, March 15, 1963, 35 ILR
136 ("Sapphire ‐ Award"), at p. 186 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐172) 1021 In J. Gillib Wetter and Stephen Schwebel "Some Little‐Known Cases on Concessions ‐ The Greek Telephone
Company Case" (1964) 40 British Yearbook of International Law 216 ("Gillib and Schwebel (1964)") at 221, the Tribunal found that Greece must compensate the investor for the lost profits "for what it would have obtained" had the concession contract been implemented by the State (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐087) In Sea‐Land Service, Inc. v. Iran, Iran, Award 135‐33‐1, June 20, 1984, (1984) 6 Iran‐US CTR 149 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐116), the Tribunal cited its decision in Pomeroy et al. v. Iran, Iran ‐ United States Claims Tribunal, Case No. 40, Award No. 50‐40‐3, 2 Iran‐US CTR 372 (June 8, 1983,) ("Pomeroy ‐ Award") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐173) as a basis for this determination.
1022 German American Mixed Claims Commission, Preliminary Administrative Decisions, VII British Yearbook of International Law 222 ("German American Mixed Claims Commission"), at pp. 222‐225 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐142); Laura M. B. Janes et al v. United Mexican States (1925), Mexico/United States General Claims Commission, IV Report of International Arbitration Awards 82 ("Janes Case") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐094) See also Affaire Relatif a La Concession de Phares de L'Empire Ottoman (France/Greece), Permanent Court of International Justice, 24,27 July 1956, XII Reports of International Arbitration Awards 155 ("Lighthouses Arbitration"), at pp. 245‐250 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐119); AGIP Spa v. Congo, ICSID Case ARB/77/1, Award (November 30, 1979) ("AGIP Spa ‐ Award"), at para. 98 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐174)
1023 In Sapphire ‐ Award at p. 186 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐172) the Tribunal found that: "This compensation includes the loss suffered (damnum emergens), for example the expenses incurred in performing the contract, and the profit lost (lucrum cessans), for example the net profit which the contract would have obtained. The award of compensation for the lost profit or the loss of a possible benefit has been frequently allowed by international arbitral tribunals.". In May Case (Guatemala/United States) (1900), XV Reports of International Abritration Awards 55, ("May Case"), at p. 72 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐096), the Tribunal came to a similar conclusion that compensation should include both the damage suffered and the lost profit. In this case, the investor was "entitled to all the profit to be derived from the railroad until the completion of the term." Similarly, in Shufeldt Claim (Guatemala/United States) (1930), II Reports of International Arbitration Awards 1081 ("Shufeldt Claim") (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐099), the arbitrator rendered an award on damages that covered both the losses suffered and the lost profits.
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934. In the Shufeldt Claim, the arbitrator held that the lost profits:
...must be the direct result of the contract and not too remote or speculative ... (but as) may reasonably be supposed to have been in the contemplation of both parties as the probable result of a breach of it.1024
935. In its discussion of international compensation law, the Amco Asia Tribunal noted that
the basic principles of international compensation law used to quantify damages are
those of contract law:
The legal bases of calculation of damages will be set up according to the principles governing the matter, where the prejudice to be compensated results from the failure of a party to a contract to fulfill its obligations under the contract.
This method is justified in the instant case, in spite of the relationship between the host state and the investor not being strictly identical to a private law contract, as earlier shown, but merely comparable to such a contract....
Moreover, it could by no means be contended that if the illegal acts of the State were of delictual nature, the damages to be awarded in compensation of the prejudice should be a lower amount than damages awarded in the framework of contractual liability.1025
936. In the Amoco case, Judge Brower concluded that international law should compensate
an investor for loss of its "probable performance" in the market.1026
937. An award compensating the Investor for its lost opportunity of access to cash flow
would reflect the damage incurred directly from Canada's unlawful actions. This direct
consequential loss must be based upon the opportunity lost by the Investor by not re‐
deploying its cash flow from its Canadian‐based business operation.
938. As the Independent Valuators have identified, Mesa entered into a Master Turbine Sale
Agreement with General Electric, in consideration of which Mesa paid an initial amount
of USD$153,592.671027 to secure the provision of wind turbines from GE. The entire
amount was forfeited by Mesa when Canada wrongly failed to provide Mesa with a
Power Purchase Agreement for its wind development projects.
939. Additionally, as examined in the Independent Valuators' Report, Mesa incurred
development costs associated with the Projects from December 2009 to December
2011.1028 Because Mesa was unable to obtain the FIT Contracts for its projects, these
losses are not recoverable and Mesa is entitled to be reimbursed for them.
1024 Shufeldt Claim at p. 1099 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐099) 1025 Amco Asia – Award, at para. 265 [emphasis added] (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐170) 1026 Amoco International Finance Corporation v. Iran, Iran ‐ United States Claims Tribunal, Case No. 56, Award 310‐
56‐3, (July 14, 1987) ("Amoco ‐ Award"), at p. 300 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐171) 1027 CER‐ Independent Valuators' Report of Low and Taylor of Deloitte, paras. 2.18, 2.19 and 2.20. 1028 CER‐ Independent Valuators' Report of Low and Taylor of Deloitte, at paras. 4.1(v), 4.30 and 4.31.
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D. Mitigation
940. The duty of mitigation is a general principle of law, which forms part of the principles of
international law.1029
941. The principle has been recognized by several international tribunals including the
International Court of Justice.1030 For example, in the Gabcikovo‐Nagymaros Project
case, the International Court stated:
It is a general principle of international law that a party injured by the non‐performance of another contract party must seek to mitigate the damage he has sustained. It would follow from such a principle that an injured State which has failed to take the necessary measures to limit the damage sustained would not be entitled to claim compensation for that damage which could have been avoided. While this principle might thus provide a basis for the calculation of damages, it could not, on the other hand, justify an otherwise wrongful act.1031
942. The duty of mitigation is also reflected in the Commentary to Article 31 of the ILC
Articles. The Commentary to Article 31 notes that mitigation of damage is an element
affecting the scope of reparation.1032
E. Opportunity Loss: Interest and Costs
943. It is not sufficient for the Investor to be awarded only the amount of its loss at the time
of Canada's breach. International tribunals have broad discretion to take into account all
relevant circumstances, including equitable considerations on a case by case basis, to
ensure that full compensation ensues.1033 These types of considerations usually take the
form of an award dealing with opportunity loss (that is, interest of some form) and
awards of costs.
1029 Middle East Cement Shipping and Handling Co. S.A. v. The Arab Republic of Egypt, ICSID ARB/99/6, Award (April
12, 2002) ("Middle East Cement ‐ Award"), at para. 167 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐114) 1030 See for example: Well Blowout Control Claim, S/AC.26/1996/5/Annex, reproduced in 36 ILM 1279 (November
15, 1996) ("Well Blowout"), at para. 54 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐175) Gabcikovo‐Nagymaros (Hungary/Slovakia), International Court of Justice, I.C.J. Reports 1997 (September 25, 1997) ("Gabcikovo‐Nagymaros"), at para. 80 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐176)
1031 Gabcikovo‐Nagymaros at para. 80 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐176) 1032 Crawford (2002), at p. 205 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐006) 1033 Compañia del Desarrollo de Santa Elena, S.A. v. Republic of Costa Rica, Case No. ARB/96/1, Final Award
(February 17, 2000) ("Compañia del Desarrollo de Santa Elena ‐ Award"), at paras. 90‐92 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐115) This view was also maintained by a number of Iran‐US Claims Tribunal awards such as those in the American International Group, Inc. v. Iran, Iran ‐ United States Claims Tribunal, Case No. 2, Award 93‐2‐3, December 19, 1983, 4 Iran‐US CTR 96 ("AIG‐ Award"), at p. 109 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐177); Phillips Petroleum Co. Iran v. Iran, Iran ‐ United States Claims Tribunal, Case No. 39, Award 425‐39‐2, 29 June 1989, 21 Iran‐US CTR 79 ("Phillips Petroleum ‐ Award"), at paras. 111‐112 and 157 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐178); and Starrett Housing Corp. v. Iran, Iran ‐ United States Claims Tribunal, Award, 32‐24‐1, 4 Iran‐US CTR 112 (December 19, 1983) ("Starrett Housing ‐ Award"), at para. 157 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐179)
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944. Under international law, tribunals can award damages for opportunity loss. For
example, in its decision in the Aminoil case, the Tribunal acknowledged that "...the
reasonable rate of return, assessed on a somewhat more liberal scale, constitutes one
of the elements of compensation."1034 The Asian Agricultural Products case supports the
principle that "interest becomes an integral part of the compensation itself, and should
run consequently from the date when the State's international responsibility is
engaged."1035 The Tribunal in the Santa Elena case similarly supported the award of
compound interest to the investor:
... where an owner of property has at some earlier time lost the value of his asset but has not received the monetary equivalent that then became due to him, the amount of compensation should reflect, at least in part, the additional sum that his money would have earned, had it, and the income generated by it, been reinvested each year at generally prevailing rates of interest. It is not the purpose of compound interest to attribute blame to, or to punish, anybody for delay in the payment made to the expropriated owner; it is a mechanism to ensure that the compensation awarded the Claimant is appropriate in the circumstances.1036
945. Similarly, the ICSID Tribunal in Middle East Cement Shipping held that:
...international jurisprudence and literature have recently, after detailed consideration, concluded that interest is an integral part of the compensation due after the award and that compound (as opposed to simple) interest is at present deemed appropriate as the standard of international law in such expropriation cases.1037
Other international Tribunals have taken a similar position, including the ICSID Tribunals
in Wena Hotels v. Egypt,1038 Santa Elena v. Canada1039 and the Tribunal in Metalclad v.
1034 Award in the Matter of an Arbitration Between Kuwait and the American Independent Oil Company (Aminoil),
Award, 21 ILM 976 (March 24, 1982) ("Aminoil ‐ Award"), at para. 163 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐180)
1035 Asian Agricultural Products – Award, at para. 128 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐055); The Tribunal in Asian Agricultural Products was quoting from Lillich, R. "Interest in the Law of International Claims" in Essays in Honour of Voitto Saario and Toivo Sainio (Helsinki: International Law Association, 1983) ("Lillich (1983)"), at para. 55‐56 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐181)
1036 Compañia del Desarrollo de Santa Elena – Award, at para. 104 [emphasis added] (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐115) Other international arbitral awards have expressly allowed compound interest to be paid on the award of damages; See Fabiani Case (1905), French/Venezuelan Claims Commission, X Reports of International Arbitration Awards 83 ("Fabiani Case"), at p. 93 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐182); Chemins de Fer Zeltweg‐Wolfsberg (Austria v. Yugoslavia), III Reports of International Arbitration Award 1795, at pp. 1808‐1809 ("Chemins"), at p. 1808 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐183) Dr. Mann has similarly concluded that compound interest should be awarded to the claimant as an integral part of damages awards by international tribunals: Mann, F. A. Further Studies in International Law (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1990) (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐184)
1037 Middle East Cement – Award, at para. 174 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐114) 1038 Wena Hotels – Award, at para. 129 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐136) 1039 Compañia del Desarrollo de Santa Elena – Award, at paras. 96‐110 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at
CL‐115)
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Mexico.1040 Accordingly, the Investor respectfully requests that the Tribunal award
compound interest on the damage award.
946. The Investor's losses arising from Canada's failure to act in accordance with its Treaty
Obligations have been calculated by Robert Low and Richard Taylor of Deloitte LLP in its
Independent Valuators' Report. On the basis of the international law of damages, the
Investor's compensable losses include:
a) Losses as a result of Canada's failure to meet its Treaty obligations;
b) Losses arising from the failure to effectively operate the Investments;
c) Interest; and
d) Professional fees and costs of this arbitration.
947. The award of interest is to compensate the Investor and the Investment from the time
of the breach of September 24, 2009, through to the date of the award.
948. The compound rate of interest is appropriately based on a rate of return equal to
commercial interest rates. In any event, the rate should not be less than the average
yield of one to three year Government of Canada bonds quoted on the Bank of Canada
website compounded annually.
III. SUMMARY OF VALUATION REPORT
949. Robert Low and Richard Taylor are Chartered Business Valuators and Chartered
Accountants with the firm of Deloitte LLP. The Independent Valuators' Report sets out
the calculations of the independent valuators of how the damage caused by Canada's
unlawful actions to the Investor and their Investments is properly quantified.1041
950. The Independent Valuators' Report's methodology in summary is comprised of:
a) The near certainty of the Investor obtaining a contract for the Projects, given the
prominent market position of the Investor and the Investment, as well as the nature
and characteristics of the Green Energy Act, and the contract entered into between
the Government of Ontario and the Korean Consortium;
b) The total is the volume of revenue lost by the Investor and Investment;
c) The revenue loss is then assessed to produce a loss of cash flow attributable to the
Investor and the Investment after deducting all appropriate expenses. This figure
constitutes the base economic loss to which the Investor and the Investment are
entitled under the NAFTA;
1040 Metalclad (2000) – Award, at para. 128 (Investor's Schedule of Legal Authorities at CL‐098) 1041 CER‐ Independent Valuators' Report of Low and Taylor of Deloitte, at paras. 4.74, 4.75 and 4.76.
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d) This base lost cash flow figure is then adjusted for out of pocket losses and an
applicable rate of interest (still to be applied) to produce the total amount required
to put the Investor and the Investment in the position they would have been in but
for the wrongful acts of Canada, net of the costs of this arbitration, including
professional representation.
A. Damage Suffered by the Investor
951. The Independent Valuators' Report calculates the total damage resulting from Canada's
actions that were inconsistent with its Treaty obligations. The Report calculates the
resulting damages that flow from the economic losses, including:
a) Incremental costs incurred to mitigate Canada's failure to protect the investment;
and
b) Future Losses.1042
952. The Independent Valuators' Report includes the additional costs the Investor incurred,
defined in the Report as "Past Costs Incurred", and also included is the forfeited deposit
by the Investor to GE, based on the nature and mechanics of the damages
calculation.1043
i. Discount Cash Flow Analysis
953. The Independent Valuators have used the discounted cash flow approach (DCF) for
economic loss, which was considered the most appropriate and reliable.1044 Cash flows
are identified for a period of 20 years into the future and discounted to the date of the
analysis by an appropriate discount rate. As the revenue stream was provided in the FIT
Contract and guaranteed by the OPA for 20 years, the Independent Valuators
concluded:
Revenues can be forecast with a relatively high degree of confidence. The price per kWh is established by contract while the wind production can be reasonably estimated, with estimates supported by independent wind studies, and therefore revenues were readily determinable1045
954. The Independent Valuators' Report also calculates future losses using the Investor's
Production Forecast. It uses the DCF approach to determine the economic losses
sustained over the future loss period. The DCF approach calculates the present value of
future losses by converting the losses to their present value equivalent. The discount
rate used to convert the future losses to their present value equivalent reflects both the
1042 CER‐ Independent Valuators' Report of Low and Taylor of Deloitte, at para. 4.66. 1043 CER‐ Independent Valuators' Report of Low and Taylor of Deloitte, at para. 4.66. 1044 CER‐ Independent Valuators' Report of Low and Taylor of Deloitte, at paras. 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7 and 4.8. 1045 CER‐ Independent Valuators' Report of Low and Taylor of Deloitte, at para. 4.7(a).
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time value of money and the perceived risk of the loss arising as forecast. The DCF
approach is based on a projection of future cash flows that would have been realized
from the ongoing operations of the affected investment.1046
955. The cash flows to be discounted are determined on a pre‐interest basis and therefore
the appropriate discount rate is a weighted average cost of capital (WACC) which
represents a weighted average of the after‐tax cost of debt, and the after‐tax cost of
equity where the weighting is based on the company's target debt‐equity ratio,
measured at market. The Independent Valuators' Report determined the appropriate
WACC to be 5.50 to 5.75%.1047
956. NAFTA Article 1104 ensures that the best treatment in the jurisdiction is to be provided
in the event that there is a difference between national treatment and most favoured
nation treatment:
Article 1104: Standard of Treatment
Each Party shall accord to investors of another Party and to investments of investors of another Party the better of the treatment required by Articles 1102 and 1103.
957. Based on this, the Independent Valuators' Report concludes the midpoint damages of
the loss incurred by the Investor is broken down as follows:1048
a) Damages for breaches of Article 1102, 1103 or 1105 $653,183 million
b) Damage for breach of Article 1106 $105,250 million
958. The damages for category (a) includes damages in category (b). Thus categories (a) and
(b) are not additive, and the damages in category (b) would only be applicable if the
Tribunal did not find a breach of Articles 1102, 1103 or 1105.
959. Legal costs have not been included in this total, and are an appropriate addition at the
discretion of the Tribunal.
960. In total, the Independent Valuators calculate the midpoint of the Investor's losses due to
Canada's breach of the Treaty, excluding legal and arbitration costs, to be CDN$653,183
million.1049
961. While the Report recognizes the need to consider pre and post‐judgment interest, those
amounts have not been included in the amounts stated above.
1046 CER‐ Independent Valuators' Report of Low and Taylor of Deloitte, at para. 4.4. 1047 CER‐ Independent Valuators' Report of Low and Taylor of Deloitte, at para. 4.54. 1048 CER‐ Independent Valuators' Report of Low and Taylor of Deloitte, at para. 4.3. 1049 CER‐ Independent Valuators' Report of Low and Taylor of Deloitte, at para. 4.54.
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PART SEVEN: RELIEF REQUESTED
962. In view of the facts and law set out in this Memorial, the Investor respectfully request
that the Tribunal grant the following relief:
a) A Declaration that Canada has acted in a manner inconsistent with its Treaty
obligations under NAFTA Articles 1102, 1103, 1105 and 1106;
b) Damages in the amount of CDN$653,183 million plus interest from September 24,
2009, at a rate set by the Tribunal; and
c) An award in favour of the Investor for their costs, disbursements and expenses
incurred in the arbitration for legal representation and assistance, plus interest, and
for the costs of the Tribunal.
ALL OF WHICH IS RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED
Appleton & Associates International Lawyers Date: November 20, 2013